Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

22 What's Beyond the Horizon

Bean apparently didn’t only know how to open fences. He also figured out how to unhook the door in his cubicle, making things complicated with Noah because he had to literally drag the stallion back to the stables when he couldn’t visit inside the Magic Ball for weeks. Noah had to talk to Snowflake to watch out for her brother’s reckless actions. She kept an extra eye out.

The black stallion would usually grunt at him—it was a neigh that sounded so low, his mouth upturned into a scowl.

“You can’t keep going outside,” Noah warned as he removed the reigns on Bean. The stallion kicked hay beside him. Noah snarled at him. The animal was acting like a spoiled child who’s at his coming of age phase.

“Stop that,” the tone in Noah’s voice made him lower his head. “We don’t know what goes beyond this farmyard,” Noah explained. Even his dogs listened when he reminded them not to stray too far away from this place. Bean was on a whole different level of a rebel.  

“Until I can confirm that you’re all free to roam this place without any danger waiting ahead,” he lowered his eyes at the stallion’s, “you would stay inside the stables when I’m not around for a few days.”

Bean lowered his head to the ground, and Noah crouched beside him, “It’s for the best,” he said as he stroked Bean gently on his neck. Good god, Noah thought he was becoming father-material by taking care of these animals.

Bean gazed up, his obsidian eyes lingering at Noah’s bright ones for seconds. He neighed deep and burrowed his head underneath Noah’s arm.

“That’s my boy,” Noah said while giving him a carrot from his vegetable lawn.

You know the feeling you get when you really want to do something, but you don’t want anyone finding out about it? Noah’s chest inflated, then he let out a long, exhausted breath. He had been planning on taking the new animals he would purchase inside the Magic Ball, but he thinks it’s too suspicious.

Because he has his own ranch, the excuse he came up with had too many loopholes.

He originally wanted to tell Thomas that he had another ranch somewhere far North that he required new animals would stay at. He came up with something along the lines of the animals having special treatment that would improve their health—yes, and Noah cringed. He shook his head, thinking how stupid it would have been, especially when he’s the one that’s going to explain everything.

Thomas and Nancy were too perceptive for such lies. The only person he can pull off this excuse is with Wynn. Noah thinks he would undoubtedly shriek and run all over the place at such suggestions.

Noah’s aware of the miraculous benefits of the Magic Ball, but the thing that bothered him is that how in the world would he be able to know how to put all the new animals inside?

Noah kept scribbling in his notebook with things he wanted to happen while operating his Stream Ranch. There’s making use of the World Tree and the mysterious pond in the outside world, to which he just recently crossed off his list. Now, there are his dogs who are becoming good shepherds of cattle and sheep. He missed the softness of their fur, and the three of them huddling close when it’s winter.

It’s been a week, and Noah thinks it was about time that he takes the dogs back to his home. He had Wynn’s number on his screen. He talked lazily about dropping his dogs at his house. Later on, Wynn called to let him know they would there in about a minute.

And so, he spends the entire weekend with his dogs.

A month went by again, and summer is almost exhausting to deal with. Not only was the heat prevailing, but it was also hurting the budget Noah set aside for his electricity bills. Noah had to put his AC into its lowest temperature just so he wouldn’t sweat while he slept on his bed. Most days, he would keep the AC open at all times.

When he came to a meeting with his employees, Thomas suggested that they start breeding premium cattle meat. Nancy and Wynn couldn’t agree more. Noah had nothing against the idea at first, but when Thomas emphasized that they needed to buy younger cattle around farms—it was the end for Noah. He would be overcome by his desire to place the cattle in his Magic Ball. He’s so sure about it that he had the plan perfectly laid in his head.

He agreed with Thomas and the rest.

After a week or two, he had purchased a group of cattle and sheep. Of course, he had the animals delivered in his personal address. The farmer he bought the animals from had a crease on his brows, as Noah told him specifically to have the animals delivered at his front door.

He asked Noah twice, making sure that he wasn’t mishearing things. Noah stared dead serious at him.

After another set of days, the animals were delivered in his house as he instructed them to. One by one, he had the animals placed inside the Magic Ball. And soon, the mini farmyard started becoming lively.

The farmyard was filled with different kinds of animal sounds. Some were chirping, the other’s mooing or neighing. The sheep rarely made a sound—only when Mik would scare them from behind the fence whenever they had their weekend vacation at Noah’s.

The new animals grew to be as intelligent and healthy as his dogs and horses. But Mik, Ginger, Cole, Bean, and Snowflake topped them all. These five animals were the ones that acted as if they were Noah’s own children—as if they’re humans. Surprisingly, both animals got along well than most inside the Magic Ball.

One time, Noah saw them playing around the World Tree with what seemed to be a game of tag. Noah burst out laughing, and the five of them ran to where he was standing.

Months went by, and summer turned to autumn. The World Tree’s leaves were painted into hues of orange, yellow, and red. Soon, smoke came out of Noah’s mouth whenever he would exhale.

He received an unexpected call from Brice, his close friend’s voice shaking at the other end of the line. When Noah finally calmed him down, Brice whimpered a cry, and Noah’s positive he’s telling the truth.

Noah tried coaxing him for the truth. After minutes of squabbling, Noah had a resigned sigh. He threatened Brice that he would end the call. And finally, Brice had announced that he was planning to propose to a long-time girlfriend named Angela.

There was a long pause as Noah tried to comprehend what he’s friend was trying to say. He asked Brice if he was positive that he heard the words right. Brice cussed at him and told him he was a prick for not believing that he really has a long-time girlfriend.

After the phone call, Brice declared that he was finally engaged and that the wedding was happening next year. Smiling, Noah couldn’t be happier for his friend.

Two weddings in a year? He’d count himself in. Who wouldn’t? There are free food and wine, after all.

February was the start of spring. Lounging on the ground, Noah had his straw hat over his face. He often does this when he has spare time to rest a bit before he starts caring for his animals again. He managed to survive, taking care of the new set of animals he bought for their cattle breeding. Thomas was impressed by the state they were in when Noah brought them back at the Stream Ranch.

Yawning and turning on his side, Ginger tucked her head at his neck. Snowflake neighed and squeezed her head on Noah’s back. These two were the only ones who are willing to laze beside him. The boys often run around as much as they can, but not too far that Noah wouldn’t be able to spot them anytime.

After napping for an hour, Noah looked beyond the farmyard. Come to think of it, he had no idea how far this land stretched. It’s been years since he found the Magic Ball, and he didn’t have the courage—perhaps also the time, to explore what’s beyond this piece of land.

Fixing the straw hat on his head, he whistled and called Bean’s name several times. The obsidian horse came into view within a few seconds, Cole and Mik trailing him from behind.

Noah began fixing the riding gears on his body. Mounting himself on Bean, he made sure the reigns are attached properly. Yanking gently on the leather, Noah looked at the remaining four animals beside him.

“If I can take you, I will,” he explained as they c****d their heads to the side. Cole barked as if he was asking Noah where he would go.

“I would investigate how vast this place is,” he explained, his face facing the vast space ahead of them. “What’s beyond this land—I’ll take you there.” He said, giving them a gentle smile.

When he yanked the reigns again, Bean charged forward. He jumped over the fence, and Noah had to pat his head to be careful.

They rode through the sunset, the colors of radiating bright at Noah’s face. He wasn’t sure how big this place would be. Heck, he didn’t even know how this place had come about. Did someone build it? Was this some kind of a gift from a god? Is this a magical land that was once inhabited by magical creatures? Or, is it a cursed place that would someday take a toll on Noah’s life?

These are just one of the hundred questions he wanted to be answered within his lifetime. He was thankful—grateful to have found such a thing that helped him break the regular cycle that he had cast upon in himself.

Because the truth is, if he hadn’t found this place within a crystalized ball, he would still be in a company that didn’t saw his true potentials. He wouldn’t be able to meet such important people in his lives—he wouldn’t be able to give his parents the life that they are experiencing right now.

Most importantly, he wouldn’t be able to discover his passion for his horses. He wouldn’t be able to know that dogs meant a lot to him as much as a companion would. He wouldn’t be able to learn to plant vegetables at his mini garden behind the wooden cabin.

His experience with the Magic Ball was surreal enough that he had to pinch his arm to assure that reality was unfolding in his very eyes—that the things he found in the Magic Ball are as real as Brice and Elijah’s wedding. He was thankful that Thomas, Wynn, and Nancy had been there to aid him in his dream ranch.

Stopping over a horizon, Noah and Bean run like the wind. There was no end to how big the land is.

The sky turned dark, and stars peeked like tiny diamonds above them.

“Let’s go back,” Noah whispered as he patted Bean.

The black stallion grunted his response, and when Noah maneuvered his gear back, Bean willingly rode with him back to their home.

It was as Noah expected: the place has no end. The farmyard is the beginning, but the land stretched farther than they expected it to be. Noah wondered if they would reach the sea, but unfortunately, it would take them days if there happens to be one. Besides, Noah hadn’t smelled the ocean anywhere they rode at for the past five hours.  

The land inside the Magic Ball was an endless prairie.