Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

89 The Melancholy of Snowflake

“Do you like these animals?” Jennifer asked as she stood awkwardly behind the gates of the stables. “Aren’t they dangerous…” she trailed off and decided to reword what she was about to say, “…in a way?” her question hung in the air as she awaits Noah while he filled the wooden buckets with carrots.

The newsboy hat he usually wore was settled on a nail buried on a wooden post. He snatched it and wore it on his head. He carried two buckets of carrots. One he gently placed on Bean’s stable, the other he handed over to Jennifer.

“See for yourself,” he teased as Jennifer almost fell to the floor from the weight of the carrots.

The charming actress’s cheeks reddened as she slowly poured the carrots on Snowflake’s stall.

Her smooth hands held her chin, “This one doesn’t look friendly.”

The white horse ignored her for the rest of the day. Noah had noticed Snowflake wasn’t cooperative, no matter what he says. Although when Diana was here, the lovely mare would always comply with her instructions. She even had Diana kiss her on the nose. In the current moment, Snowflake had been moody and irritated with any person that would approach her. Nancy insisted that she must have been missing Diana. After all, they have not seen each other for a month or so. Despite his rejected feelings, Noah consistently tells Diana that she can come over or that Snowflake misses her. He did those out of concern for the horse—nothing more, nothing less.

“I’m too afraid that this huge creature would bite me when I try and reach the carrot to its mouth,” Jennifer remarked as she stood like a still rock in front of Snowflake’s stable.

In a few seconds, Noah was already behind her. He pressed his back to Jennifer. His free arm reached for her’s. Jennifer stiffened, and Noah felt her breath hitch.

“Hey,” Noah whispered in her ear, “it’s okay. Here,” he moved her hands like he was controlling a puppet and had it reach to Snowflake’s mouth.

“Oh, if she bites, it’s on you,” Jennifer said in a breathy voice.

Noah laughed a little, “Come on, girl,” he urged Snowflake.

For seconds, their eyes met. But Snowflake didn’t look the bit delighted as when Diana was here.

Nevertheless, the horse obeyed and bit at the carrot in Jennifer’s hand. With this, the actress’s eyes lit up with joy. She peered behind and saw Noah looking at the mare. Her smile reached her ears as she leaned a little on Noah.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Noah looked downward on top of Jennifer’s head, “For what?” he said as he arched one brow, “you have done it yourself,” he teased, “with my help, of course.”

“Next time, I would do it myself,” Jennifer replied with a frown though her cheeks were now filled with her reddish blush.

Soon, Noah’s warmth disappeared from her back. But Jennifer’s stare remained on Noah.

Noah continued filling the wooden buckets with carrots and other vegetables while Jennifer tries her best to approach Snowflake without getting bitten.

When he was done, Noah wiped the sweat on his brow. The heartache he experienced with Diana had now officially subsided. He concluded to focus on the people interested in him rather than pursuing the woman who rejected him before he could even tell her his feelings.

“Do you want to ride with me?” Noah asked when Jennifer was done with feeding the other horses.

She turned too fast, and Noah wondered why the blush on her face spread like tomato sauce. Her mouth was slightly open. Then, she gulped once, “W-what?” the actress stuttered.

Noah arched an eyebrow, “Horses,” he gestured to Bean, “Do you want to ride me?” he repeated. He had no idea why the actress looks so flustered.

Jennifer let out a breath, “Oh, that’s…” she was lost for words. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yes?” Noah thought he wasn’t saying something right. He believes that he might have reworded it in a way that she would misunderstand.

“I thought you meant something different,” the actress said as she cleared her throat. “Anyway, should I fix her saddle?”

“You know how?” Noah responded while fixing his newsboy hat.

“I saw you do it when you walked Bean inside the pen,” she confidently stated, a smug expression hanging on her face.

Noah didn’t want to question her abilities. So, he handed her the saddle and quickly walked toward the door of the stables.

“Which one would you like to ride?” he opened the door to Bean’s cubicle, “I thought you would ride with Bean and me.”

The obsidian-colored horse nuzzled his head on Noah’s shoulder, and Noah returned the gesture with a pat on his nose.

He watched as Jennifer looked at Snowflake, knowingly, “How about this, beaut?” flashing her sculpted smile, Jennifer reached her hand. But before she can even run her fingers through Snowflake’s fur, the mare neighed so loud it pierced their hearing. She stomped her heavy foot on the ground and gruffed like a wild animal. Even Bean felt threatened that he retreated to his cubicle without Noah noticing he let go of holding his reins.

Noah had never encountered such behavior from Snowflake. She never threw fits—not with Nancy, and especially with Diana.

He rushed to the bothered horse and quickly pulled her reins in an attempt to calm her down.

Jennifer quickly hid behind the post in front of Snowflake’s cubicle.

“What's wrong with her? Is she alright?” the redhead asked, peering her head behind a post. Noah noticed the shaking of her hand and the fast inflation of her chest. She must have been scared to death when Snowflake acted the way in front of her.

Several barks came from outside the door, and Jennifer rushed to open it.

Ginger, Cole, and Mik came rushing inside. They lined up in front of an agitated Snowflake. Then, Cole barked several times, piquing Snowflake’s attention.

The mare horse halted from her sudden volts of anger. Her round, iridescent eyes had tears falling down her face.

When Cole saw this, the dog barked three times. He advanced and jumped on the door of Snowflake’s cubicle. Then, he grazed his head as Snowflake lowered her face.

Noah didn’t know what to say. It was as if the animals were comforting each other. Ginger faced Noah and bit at the end of his pants.

“What is it, buddy?” he asked without so much as looking at the scared Jennifer on the door.

Ginger barked again, and Mik pushed Noah with his right paw.

Finally, the two of them managed to make Noah look at Jennifer. The charming actress stood near the door, her eyes lined with tears Noah didn’t also know the bottom of it. He felt frustrated. Why was everyone crying? He couldn’t grapple with their reasons.

Then, Noah heard Cole’s barking. He whipped his head in its direction. His heart broke at the continuous flow of tears on Snowflake’s face. Ginger, on the other hand, pushed Noah toward Jennifer again. But Cole wasn’t someone that would stop. She barked at Noah like it was the end of the world.

Noah was parted—he was confused about who he would go to first.

In the end, his steps brought him in front of Jennifer. He heard the faint whimper Cole let out when he reached the actress.

Noah gently took Jennifer’s hand. He fixed her hair, tucking it away from hiding her eyes.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “Did she hurt you?”

Jennifer squeezed his hand, “I’m fine. I was just shocked.”

Noah let out a quiet laugh, “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want to sully that face.” He grazed his knuckle on Jennifer’s soft skin.

The actress didn’t look away. Noah locked his gaze with hers. For some reason, he couldn’t look out—couldn’t take a step back or break his hold of her hand and face. He searched her eyes—for answers he sought on the other. In that past’s eyes, he found nothing but an endless void. As Jennifer grasped his calloused hand, Noah couldn’t help but inch his face closer. His gaze didn’t linger away from her lush eyes. He liked how it was outlined by brown, kind of like Earth itself was inside her glinting orbs.

An inch closer, Noah’s sure their lips would have clashed. When he blinked, he stopped midway. He angled his head and tucked another loose strand from her bright, red hair. The color of it was almost matching the blush scattering around her small, heart-shaped face.

Noah had his lips near her ears, “Would you like to have dinner with me?” he asked as he felt her heat coursing through him.

Jennifer was silent. Noah didn’t want to repeat what he had said. Instead, he listened to her heaving breathing.

Then, the young actress found his eyes, “Italian?” she asked with a half-smile.

Noah ruffled her hair, “Of course,” he replied, “or would you rather have something else?”

Jennifer placed both of her hands on her hips, “Something else?” she said after humming.

The ends of Noah’s mouth curled, “Perhaps something that doesn’t have to do with meals?”

Chuckling, Jennifer pretended she was considering his offer, “Perhaps not?”

“How unlucky I am,” Noah replied, feigning his hurt.

“Are you kidding me? I love Italian food!” Jennifer exclaimed as she looped a hand on Noah’s biceps. Somehow, it was comforting for Noah.

“Maybe I should invite you to a friend’s wedding,” Noah considered, his free hand holding his chin.

Jennifer hummed in a honeyed manner, “If there’s Italian food, I will take a month’s worth of vacation leave.”

Noah chuckled as a response.

As Noah found the lock of the barn’s door, he saw Snowflake looking at him intently. One tear fell on her face, and Noah couldn’t shake off the feeling that the mare was disappointed in him—for making Jennifer’s hand instead of his animals in need.