Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

15 Thomas, Wynn, and Nancy

Two weeks flew by in a breath. Noah’s dogs adopted well in the outside world, and he thinks that it’s already a given since the three of them were initially born here. When the video called Nick to consult about leasing the ranch, the dogs played behind him.

Did you get dogs?

Noah nodded, his smile widening, “Yep. Got ‘em when I was still in Italy.” He regretted saying he had them when he was still in Knox. It could raise questions as to how he hadn’t heard about it till now. “I had my little brother take of them first before I brought them here.”

Nick’s face turned into a lawyer who sensed a sniff of a lie. Noah kept his face calm and unreadable, except for his half-smile. He can’t just blurt out of the blue that he had this Magic Ball and he kept them their all this time, feeding them using a telekinesis ability that helped him transport objects inside it. 

That makes sense. You never mentioned having them.

The conversation went on. Now that he’s hired three people for maintaining his ranch, Noah wanted to draft contracts with Nick. He’s the legal expert on the said field. Noah made sure that the employment contract benefits him at some point. He didn’t know his men well, and there’s nothing wrong wanting to protect the properties he bought from his own pocket.

“Of course, I would still give them a high-grade salary.” He said casually while throwing the rubber ball to the door, three of his dogs scrambling forward as they fight who would get the ball back to Noah. “You can’t manage a ranch that big with just three people, but since I’m still adjusting to things, I might as well risk it.”

Good point, Nick commented while he typed something on his laptop, either way, you both benefit from each other. I’ll have the contract drafted later tonight—wait, let me make that tomorrow night.

“No rush there,” Mik nudged Noah’s elbow as he reached for his palm, Mik placing the ball gently, “I can wait.”

He took out a treat from his pocket and fed it to a happy Mik, “Good job.” Smiling, he caressed Mik’s neck. Ginger and Cole sat straight behind the chair as if they were envious about Mik’s achievement.

“Come here.” Noah gestured them to his side. He patted their head one at a time, and he felt them shift comfortably at his touch. The three of them went back to playing as Noah walked to the sliding door and opened it so that they could play on the lawn.

Say, how about we go and have a drink at a downtown bar?

Noah sighed, “Only if you won’t make me carry you all the way home.”

Nick crackled a laugh, Take Brice and Mikes with you, then.

Noah pulled through the parking lot, Mik, Ginger, and Cole on the backseat. He didn’t need to put a dog leash on them. He’s confident the three can control themselves, especially when he commanded them to do so. Disregarding the master-dog relationship that the four of them have established, Noah couldn’t help but spoil the three of them like they were his own kid. He even bought three separate dog beds in his house. But the real reason Noah brought them in the ranch was to have Thomas train them into herding dogs. He believes that they will learn it quickly in no time. Noah already had the carpenters built them their own dog houses near the main house he had made, in case Thomas and his assistants needed a place to stay when they’re too tired to go back to their own home. Also, Noah thought he and his friends can use it leisurely when they’re not too busy with their jobs.

He motioned for his dogs to wait inside the car while he gets out. The dogs sat patiently, ears perked, their eyes following Noah as he opened the door for them.

“Come on out.” He gestured his hands for them to follow him. The dogs barked two times—their sign language of a yes.

Pulling the newsboy hat down his eyebrows, Noah and his dogs walked towards where the ranch house is being built.

“Good morning, Mr. Martin!” one cheery carpenter greeted him as he walked with a hammer in hand. Noah tipped his chin in response, a half-smile dipping his dimpled cheek.

Some construction workers patted the dogs, the others calling out to how cute and big the three of them were.

A woman wearing boots and her usual long shirt and vest went towards their way. From the corner of his eyes, Noah spotted the long, wavy, blond hair that walked straight to where he’s standing, his hands on his pocket.

“Mr. Martin,” she said politely, their heights not differing that much as she leveled her stare at his temple. He stood at six feet two, while she was atleast five feet eight.

“You’ve come to visit.” She said while gathering her hair into a ponytail. 

“Nancy,” his signature half-smile appearing on his face briefly. He didn’t glance back at her, his eyes focused on the roof being carefully lowered down atop the house.

When he tore away his gaze to the roof, he sought her green eyes flecked with gold strips. Noah thought it was lovely.

“Where’s Thomas?”

She was occupied with rolling her sleeves when she answered, “back with the herd. He’s shepherd now.” She joked as their eyes met.

“Good.” Noah patted Cole as Mik and Ginger sat on his shoe.

Nancy opened her mouth to say something, but their conversation died when Wynn jumped from the freshly cemented porch Noah asked them to specifically include in his new home. A lady they hired to feed the construction workers gasped and later on, scolded the man for being reckless.

He was a few inches shorter than Noah, but he was still considered tall in his five feet eleven height. His brown hair stuck on his forehead as he ran fast to where Noah is.

“Noah!” he gave Noah a bear hug. He was the only one who had the guts to call him by his first name. “You didn’t call that you were coming for a visit. I should have asked them to cook something for you.”

“It’s a surprise,” he laughed while patting Wynn’s broad back, a puff of smoke appearing in the air.

“Where have you been? You seem to be rolling over dust.”

“I—” he stopped midway when Cole sniffed his leg. “Oh, dogs?” Wynn’s eyes lingered at the three of them, curiosity flashing in him as he reached his hand to Cole. Noah watched as Wynn’s eyes lit up with delight. He assumed he must have been fund with dogs.

Cole looked at him, then back to his hand as he sniffed.

“You got yourself three huge dogs?”

“I’ve had them since I was in Italy.”

“I never saw you as a dog person,” Nancy joined in, “you look like the business type.”

A low chuckle slipped from his mouth, his eyes catching Nancy’s again. She was the quiet version of his loud little sister.

Cole licked Wynn’s palm as he settled on his side, “He likes me.” He claimed while patting Cole’s head.

Noah nodded. “I’m planning on having Thomas train them into herding dogs.”

Wynn’s face struck up, “Considering that they’re German Shepherds themselves, I think it’s a good idea.”

“They seem to be well trained,” Nancy commented. “I’ve noticed that they aren’t running around that much. Usually, dogs do that all the time when they see big spaces such as these fields.” She gestured to a thousand-acre of lush green grass ahead of them.

Noah hummed in agreement. “Indeed. I’ve trained them ever since they were young. Or maybe they’re used to big spaces already.” The farmyard in the Magic Ball came to his mind. For months, his three dogs had lived there, oblivious to the world outside of it.

“We can bring ‘em to Pops. They’ll be useful enough with the sheep that arrive last week.”

Noah was busy observing the construction worker putting cement on the walls. “Are they in good condition?” his voice lowering.

Wynn stood straightly. “Certainly. Pop’s been in charge of them ever since they arrived.”

Noah nodded.

Speak of the devil, Thomas appeared, his string hat in his hand when he palmed Noah’s shoulder before striding past him. He walked straight to the construction workers and bellowed, “Let’s have a thirty-minute break. We’ll resume later.”

Noah watched him intently. He had known these people for only a couple of days, but they seemed to have proved their handiness and loyalty. He had this intuition inside him—an unspeakable voice that warned him about people, and he’s glad that he didn’t have it when he spoke to Thomas the night they decided to have a drink at a bar.

“Mr. Martin,” he nods his head once, his blue eyes leveling in his.

“How are you?” Noah asked, his gaze steady.

“Good. Everything is running smoothly.” Thomas reported, his shoulders hunched a bit from working.

“Don’t overwork yourself,” Noah warned, his tone calm yet authoritative. “I can’t let anyone handle this better than you do.” It was a compliment Noah is convinced he deserved, considering the ranch has been running non-stop without fail for the past days.

“By the way,” he coaxed the dogs, “these are my babies.” He gestured toward on a sitting Mik, a rolling Ginger on the ground, and a sniffing Cole on his feet. “I’d like you to train them as herding dogs.” He lowered his eyes on the ground to where his dogs were.

“Shepherds? Since when did you procure them?”

“They’re with me ever since. I flew them here from Italy.” He squats down at the dogs’ level, the sun beaming his eyes as he lowered the newsboy hat further. “I trained them, and I can assure you they’re quick learners. I heard the sheep have arrived? You can start with that.”

“I guess that will do. They seem to be well-trained enough that they don’t leave your side.” Thomas eyed them curiously.

Noah gestured to the dogs, and they sat straight. He made a gesture with his hands, and they ran around the field, barking like children that patiently waited for their parents to allow them to play.

“Is that fine? The acre’s big.” Nancy’s face contorted in concern.

Noah didn’t spare her a glance as he walked a few phases away. He whistled, and all three of them ran back to where he was, barking two times each. Noah pointed to Thomas, Nancy, and Wynn, “Go with them.” They barked two times, but Ginger barked three.

Noah smiled and shook his head. His gaze caught Thomas’, “I want them brought to my house in the weekends.”

“Understood,” Thomas answered as Ginger wagged her tail at him.

“We’ll have someone arranged for that,” said Nancy.

“I’ll do it,” Wynn chirped, Cole by his side already. “Every weekend, it is.”

Noah’s half-smile crossed his face, “Call me when you need anything.”

He’s back again inside the Magic Ball. Noah went straight to the lawn that he had planted the vegetable seeds in.

It’s been two weeks since he last visited. He had been too busy with the dogs.

The farmyard never fazed to amaze him. The water coming out of the World Tree’s trunk flowed on the soil effortlessly.

Turning a corner, he found a leaf sprouting beneath the soil—another proof that the water from the pond had components that help with the growth of living things. Noah wants to send a sample to have it checked, but he still doubts what to say when asked where he found it. As much as possible, he refuses to tell anyone about the wonders of the Magic Ball. It can be taken away from him, or worst, destroyed beyond repair.