Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

18 The Farmer, His Horses, and His Daughters

Noah was bewildered as to why Jason introduced his daughters to him and his friends. Though, it was clear as day that Reese was eyeing Nick like he was a candy she would like to taste the moment she had the opportunity to do so.

Nick moved in front of Noah when he let go of Reese’s hand. Noah thought perhaps the women were interested in the four of them.

It was entertaining as they probably asked their father to lead the way.

Nick maneuvered his way smoothly in front of Noah. He advances like how a gentleman would, but Noah doubts he would be able to keep the act till the end.

Patting Nick’s shoulder, Noah gave a brief smile. Brice took a step beside Noah, the end of his mouth twitching into a smile. Michael began lighting his cigarette, pretending he wasn’t interested in what was happening.

Michael blew smoke, and Noah noticed how Lilian scrunched her nose in disapproval.

His puzzled friend arched an eyebrow at him, and Noah shrugged his shoulders fast as if to tell his friend that he, too, didn’t know what the woman’s make-face was about.

Jason unhooked the door and began leading them to the stables. The horses neighed upon his arrival, Lilian giving out a girly shriek as she saw a familiar head poking at the farthest cubicle. Jumping with joy, the girl strode fast to where a white mare neighed continuously at her presence.

Michael lifted his eyebrows. Smoke came out of his mouth, “Is she a horse whisperer or something?”

Noah knew the guy wasn’t that interested in his surroundings, especially when it has nothing to do with art. And now, he’s relatively curious why the blond woman at the farthest cubicle peaked his attention.

“Seems like it,” Noah said, his eyes lingering on the white mare who kept nuzzling her nose between Lilian’s chin and shoulder. She gently combed her fingers on the white mare’s glowing, straight mane. Noah thought it was straight out of a fairytale.

“You’d like that?” Jason appeared between him and Michael. “She’s a beauty, am I right?”

“Indeed,” Noah agreed, his hands roaming inside his pocket.

“How old is that mare?” Michael asked, his eyes pinned on a smiling Lilian.

“About two years old. We got her as a present for Lilian.”

“Then,” Michael began as he blew smoke, “we’ll not take that one.” He turned to seek Noah’s face.

Noah steadied his eyes on the white mare. “But she’s a beauty,” he protested, and Michael knew he won’t stop until he gets his hand on it.

Sighing, “Consider the woman’s feelings.” He placed the stick between his lips and removed it with his index and middle finger. “Look how happy she looks.” He gestured to a grinning Lilian that caressed the white mare’s nose, it’s hair meshing with her blond one’s.

“How about its offspring?” Jason suggested, his smile widening when Lilian took a bucket of carrots on a nearby wooden cart.

Noah raised his eyebrows, surprised that the white mare already gave birth. He nodded his head, completely agreeing to Jason’s suggestion.

“Where’s the father?”

Jason pointed to the black stallion behind him. “That one. He’s the best here.”

“The best in what?” Michael said as he pried his eyes away from a laughing Lilian.

“He’d been a racehorse three years ago, but apparently, he acquired an injury on his right leg. The owner had to sell him for a lower price because he couldn’t win races anymore.”

The black stallion blended with the shadows in his cubicle. He ate hay, his eyes unmoving as he chews his food vigorously.

“I’m convinced that he’s a good breed for the female horses. We haven’t had any complaints ever since.”

Indeed, the black stallion did look amazing, even behind the shadows. His mane was as shiny as Lilian’s white mare’s. Though Noah thinks that the black stud is a foot taller than most horses they have passed by earlier.

“Lead us to the foals,” Noah said.

When he turned, he spotted Brice and Nick talking to an occupied Reese. She was hauling the hay for another horse beside Lilian’s white mare’s cubicle. Nick was clearly hooked that Brice had to pat him fast at the back.

Noah read Brice’s lips as he mouthed a vile word to Nick like how a mother caught you doing dirty stuff inside your room.

“This way,” Jason led them to where the white mare is.

Michael stayed behind him. Noah wondered why he kept his distance from the girl in front of them. The guy wasn’t exactly sure if he finds her alluring or terrifying.

A snort escaped Noah’s lips before he cleared his throat. Michael might find Lilian as both or none of the latter.

Jason poked his head inside, his hand moving to tell Noah to come closer.

Lilian moved behind him, and Noah caught a stunned Michael that didn’t dare move from where he was standing. When Lilian stood next to him, she leaned close to his shoulder. She tugged at Michael’s sleeve, and Michael had to awkwardly lean and bow his ear next to her mouth. She whispered something that Noah didn’t how but clearly heard.

“Please stop smoking. You might set the entire stable on fire.”

Michael immediately jerked away from her. Lilian stared flatly at him, her expression uninterested.

Noah had to turn away and bite the inside of his cheeks to suppress himself from laughing.

Jason looked at him like he was going crazy. “Look here,” he called Noah’s attention.

Two small foals huddled close together. One was almost the same shade as their mother’s, only this one had a creamier tone to it. The other one was the complete copy of their father’s—it was an obsidian black like the night sky, while its sibling was the shining star.

Noah stared longer than he wanted to.

“They’re both males,” Jason followed after minutes of waiting for Noah to respond. “Both will probably grow up to be as tall as their father.”

His throat constricted, and the chill ran up his arms. Noah couldn’t comprehend what he’s about to say. For the first time in his life, he had never been this out of things to say. He always had a phrase ready. Today, he was lost for words.

“How...” he trailed off. His eyes must have sparkled like a kid had just found the best toy to buy in the children’s section. Except Noah knew very well that these horses are living things that require a special kind of attention that can go beyond one’s bank account.

He stood there, paralyzed. A hundred thoughts ran in his head; would he be able to take care of them? If he happens to buy both of the foals, would he dedicate a portion of his time to take care of them the way he took care of his dogs? Noah shook his head. They most definitely aren’t dogs. Their food probably costs five times than the average dog does. His brain cells are having a debate with his heart: practicality or passion?

A hand landed on his shoulder. It was firm and heavy.

Breaking from his trance, Noah came face to face with Michael. The smell of cigarettes lingered on his fingers.

“It’s okay.” His voice was assuring. “The painting’s selling well in the Art Museum.” He gave Noah a small smile.

“They do?” Noah raised his eyebrows. A sigh escaped his lips as he hunched his shoulders and bowed his head between his arms.

“Of course,” he laughed a bit, “of course they do. I wouldn’t own this much if they didn’t.” He shook his head and glanced back at a smiling Michael.

His eyes fleeted to a confused Lilian who involuntarily placed her hands on her hips. She must have thought that they looked lame. Noah didn’t mind. Michael had been a true friend here in Maple City, and he would hold onto that belief.

“Pass me a stick,” he grinned at Michael, who rummaged through his chest pocket. He tossed the cigarette stick to a Noah who swiftly caught.

He placed the cigarette between his lips and lighted it with Michael’s lighter. He stared back at the foals while smoke came out from his mouth. He pointed at the white one.

“What’s his name?”

Jason leaned his hands on the cubicle’s door, “It’s Snowflake.”

“Sounds wintery,” Noah commented as he took another inhale from his cigarette.

“It’s actually the color,” Jason said while chuckling.

Noah smiled, “How about him?” he nodded his head to the obsidian-colored foal who began drinking milk from his mother.

“Oh, Lilian named him.” Jason looked behind for a second, “Lilly, darling!” he called, “what had you named this little guy?”

Lillian put down the bucket of carrots she’d been placing on each cubicle ever since they have arrived at the stables. She wiped her palms at the back of her jeans. Several strands of blond hair gathered near her eyes, and she had to tuck it behind her ear.

She mumbled an excuse as she slid her body between Noah and her father, Noah noticing that Michael avoided her gaze. Oh, he would definitely have a talk with him. The guy’s completely taken by this girl’s presence.

“Which one?” Lillian asked her father, her face unreadable.

“That,” his father pointed at the obsidian-colored foal who didn’t mind their presence as he sucked the milk from his mother’s chest.

Snowflake stood and slowly walked—more like wobbled—to where Lillian is. She reached her palm to the foal, and it nuzzled its nose on her knuckles.

“That one’s Bean,” she said, a full smile appearing on her mouth.

“Bean?” Jason, her father, questioned. “Why on earth is it called ‘Bean’”?

“What?” Lillian asked in annoyance. “The name’s cute. Everyone calls their babies little bean. Why can’t I call the little foal my little bean?” her face looked dead-serious that Noah had to keep his lips in a straight line. Why does he always have to find something funny when someone’s serious?

“Bean?” Michael called as he stepped on his cigarette stick. “Sounds . . . like a baby,” he commented as Lillian’s eyes darted to his soles.

“Clean that up,” her voice was sharp, “and yes, it does sound like a baby. Now, can I feed the horses?”

“It’s not like they’re human babies,” her father interjected as his face contorted in confusion.

Lillian sucked in a breath, her expression shouting like she’s ready to pound at anyone who tries to question her skills at naming horses. She swiftly picked up the bucket of carrots and dumped them inside a cubicle. The horse looked startled, but it dug in immediately when it realized that dinner is served.

“Mr. Jason,” Noah called, “I’d like to take both Snowflake and Bean.” Noah wondered if the two of them would grow as fast and as intelligent as his three dogs when placed inside the Magic Ball? There was no doubt about it. His dogs are proof, and so are the vegetables he’s continuously harvesting when he’s too lazy to go to the grocery.

Jason nodded earnestly. “Though these horses might not be for racing,” he added. Noah stared at him. Then he stared some more.

“You mean—what are they for?”

Jason spent the remaining hours in explaining why his horses aren’t for racing. Noah ended up buying four foals in Jason’s farm. The man looked as if he had won the jackpot at Noah’s purchase.

Noah felt the disappointment weigh in the chest when he learned the horses aren’t bred for racing. He dreamed of riding one. They would head straight into a forest, running fast as it can. Nevertheless, he still went through with the purchase—he wanted to know the feeling of taking care of horses so that when the time came that he’s able to own a racing horse, he already has ample experience about what he should and shouldn’t do.