Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

29 Noah's Stream Ranch

"What?" he wasn't sure what to say. Did he notice there was something odd about the way he planted them? Besides their appearance, what could've given away that it was honed from a magical land?

Just like how he had practiced in front of his bathroom mirror, he feigned an innocent expression; brows creasing, eyes filled with curiosity as to what the other party was trying to say.

Oh, he had practiced this a lot of times, yet why does he feel as guilty as he’ll ever be?

“…what do you mean?” he asked to increase the lie he had been piling after every question that goes something along how did you do it? Why are they so smart? How did you make them follow your orders?

He didn’t know why he felt guilty about the fact that his farm had continuously been growing because of the help of some random, Magic Ball that went his way when he fell into a stream while planning to have a picnic atop the mountains.

Taking a few steps to where he was, Taylor looked him in the eye—and he had that same look like those people who never doubted his skills in farming, managing the ranch, and training the horses.

“It’s fine, you know?”

Shrugging his shoulders, he asked, “What this about, man?” he lighted his cigarette, and inhaled his first smoke. Chuckling, he added, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No,” Taylor shook his head. “I just wanted to know what you did with your herbage,”

“I…obviously planted them?” Noah looked so unsure it was convincing enough that Taylor thinks he’s a genius for creating such a thing.

Throwing his hands over his head, Taylor barked a laugh. “Noah, child. This ranch is in shackles when the previous owner had it sold to the market.”

Now, that had Noah’s attention.

He wasn’t aware of what the history behind this place is.

Michael found this place by pulling some strings he had in the industry. He told Noah the place had great potential for business or sheer hobby. But at that time, Noah kept thinking about earning, earning, and earning. Sure, he had been fascinated about horses ever since his father brought him to a farm his grandparents had. That’s where he met the first pet her ever wished he had; It was a mare with brown spots on its cream-colored body. As Noah remembered, its main was often braided by his Nana.

At the age of four, Noah often spent more time with his Nana when his parents were away. His Nana would let him groom the horse from time to time.

His Nana would sit in their patio and look over the vast field of her very own farm. At that time, Noah didn’t know his father had also been interested in horses. His Nana never mentioned anything about it, but he knew his Nana loved to race with her beloved companion; it was that mare’s mother.

The old horse died of cancer, and his Nana couldn’t do anything but to cry at his grave when the horse finally released its final breath.

All those memories flashed before his very eyes when Taylor told him how he built all of these on his own…scratch that, Noah thought. He hadn't been alone. Some people supported the things he wanted to do. His family had been with him every step of the way. They, in fact, had been supportive, and it Noah never had a reason to not thank them for every blessing he had up until this day.

Taylor decided to ask again as Noah blew smoke beside him, careful not to let the smoke fly his way.

“Do you plan on doing anything about it?” again, another vague question Noah all too well know how to answer.

Shrugging his broad shoulders, he said, “About what?”

Taylor noticed he had been avoiding questions by answering questions. For that, he’s indeed smart.

“What I meant is what you will do about this herbage…” he stopped at that as Bean let out a neigh from behind them.

Warm breath tickled his neck as Bean nudged his head onto Taylor’s back, urging him to stand up.

“Bean…?” he asked, still not looking behind him.

Noah knew Bean’s neigh like it had been part of his daily routine. The horse liked throwing tantrums every now and then.

“That’s been, alright.”

“What’s he doing here?”

Bean pushed him forward again.

Noah glanced at his shoulder, Bean’s face looking somewhat playful.

“I think he wants to play with you.”

Taylor faced the huge beast, his nose looking down at him. “Right now?”

Bean nodded his head, a neighing sound escaping from his long mouth.

“See?” Noah said, feeling smug at how well he knew his horses.

“I am well aware of that,” Taylor shot Bean a look at that made him frown.

“Go on. If you’d like to leave, you can have Bean drop you near your car.”

“No, no! Absolutely not!”

He made a face that meant he was confused as to why Taylor didn't want to adhere to his suggestion.

“Why not?” he removed the cigarette from his mouth. “He won’t simply kick you off his back. Right, big boy?”

Noah leaned to Bean’s body, and the horse nodded at his suggestion.

“See?”

Taylor scowled. “I meant, not now. I have a lot of questions for you, young man!”

Noah was taken aback, but he didn’t let it show.

He kept chanting to himself that the only way Taylor wouldn’t find out about it is that he’d mix the lie with the truth.

“I see,” he turned his body toward him as his suspenders twisted tightly. “I’m all ears.”

“About the herbage,” Taylor started, his eyes darting to the greens the animals keep eating like they’ve never been their entire life.

“I can’t help but tell that they’re…well…you know, well made.”

Noah laughed a little, “You mean I had them planted in nutrient-packed soils?”

“This land had been the same as when you arrived,” Taylor countered.

Noah had the impression that he’s determined to know a lot about his herbage. It wouldn’t help to reveal a little about it, and he knew well that no one would believe the truth.

“So, I know for a fact that it’s that plant.” His index finger pointed to the greenery the cows had been chewing thoroughly.

A smile appeared on Noah’s lips, “Indeed.”

He backed away and leaned on the fence. “It’s magic,” his eyes sparkled when the sacred word slid out of his tongue.

As expected, Taylor didn’t take it seriously.

“I doubt it,” he countered again. “I know you’re better than magic.”

That had actually shot an arrow toward Noah’s heart. He knows that everything that happened for the past two years was made possible by the Magic Ball’s powers.

The paintings, the grass, the World Tree, the mysterious pond—all of this must be attributed to the world inside the Magic Ball he found in the stream.

And it probably isn’t a coincidence to think so.

“You developed these plants. I don’t know how you did it, but you produced extraordinary plants that even my animals can’t stop themselves from eating it.” He gestured to a group of sheep that kept their head lowered on the grass. “Look at them! They’ve been eating it for the past thirty minutes or so!”

“Did you feed them ahead?”

Taylor looked as if Noah was asking such an everyday thing to do.

“Of course. I spoil them as much as you do. Though, I stray away from butchering as I don’t want to see my cattle dead.”

“Oh,” said Noah.

“I sell their milks, instead.”

“What are you going to do if they grow old? They wouldn’t be able to produce milk by then.”

“Pets,” Taylor said. “I’ll make them my pets…right?”

“Why are you asking me?” Noah said as he threw the cigarette on the soil, stomping and twisting it with the heel of his shoes. He should start buying boots to prevent dirtying his white-colored socks.

“The man who once owned this ranch,” he began, “was someone who didn’t know how to manage things around his place.

The animals were a mess, but the structures he had inside had been passed down for generations. The unique designs were from two hundred years ago, and many attempted to sell the antiques.

The owner got addicted to gambling, and soon, he had no property left. This was one of the things he owned that he sold fully intact with million-worth furniture that any billionaire would be willing to buy.”

Taylor took his time, and when he finally arrived beside Noah, he smiled at him—Noah likened the smile to that of Santa Claus; innocent, pure, and loyal.

Like grandad, he thought nostalgically.

“I didn’t know…much about that.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Taylor answered, "No one knew the full detail of what happened. That's why I'm sure that you're the one who personally grew that herbage of yours." He put a hand underneath his chin as if he was pondering about something.

“Maybe it’s also part of the reason as to why your animals had been acting as if they’re more human than any animal I’ve ever seen.”

Noah thinks this man is slowly figuring out the wall he built around himself.

Not yet. No one should know about it.

“You have good luck, you know?”

“Where did that came from?” Noah laughed.

This older man had been quite perceptive about things lately.

“You know, because you’re able to raise this awesome herbage.”

Noah hummed. "I wouldn't say I created it." He actually wholly disagrees with Taylor. He didn't raise it on his own. He had Nancy plant the herbage he took from inside the Magic Ball.

So, if he’d analyze it; it was ninety percent the Magic Ball, and the rest is split up to how loyal and meticulous his employees had been in raising the said grass.

“There’s Nancy who helped me with planting.”

The girl had outdone her self when she grew the lawn within a month or so. This just meant that grass quickly grew on profoundly, nutritious, fertilized soils.

“Have you ever thought of making a profit out of this?”

Noah looked at the setting sun, “You mean the herbage, or the entire Stream Ranch?”

He didn’t see Taylor’s face, but he heard his subtle answer, “Probably both.”

In all honesty, he’s already using every resource he finds inside the Magic Ball to his advantage. To hear Taylor ask a thing was such an understatement. If the Magic Ball can talk, it would probably tell Noah to use everything without taking all of it. It didn't make sense at first, but once he started taking things out from the Magic Ball, he learned that most of what’s inside is free—free if you took care of its nature in return.