Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

25 Bean, Snowflake, and Wedding Jitters

Noah pulled his reins to the left side to maneuver Bean’s location back to the Stream Ranch. Nowadays, the Friesian Stallion had his way in riding, and Noah didn’t like being bossed around either. Usually, both him and Bean would end up fighting as to what direction to take, or whether who would be in charge of the other.

Noah’s the master, owner, and technically the sole boss of the Stream Ranch Bean was being fed, groomed, and trained. Noah always made sure he had the upper hand. He would remind the black stallion from time to time that humans are the ones in charge when it comes to matters inside the ranch.

Snowflake was the exact opposite of Bean. She was gentle and got along well with Noah’s dogs. Each day that passed by, Snowflake’s coat had been growing shinier every time Noah sees her with Nancy during their morning stroll underneath the glowing hue of the sun that coated her short fur.

Snowflake was a Sorraia Mustang by breed, but Noah’s baffled as to why she’s becoming more and more Akhal Teke looking in terms of her fur’s current texture. It shimmers like pearls and is kind of like metallic silver and white from the shine it has from afar.

All his animals had ever eaten are his Mystery Pond’s spring water, and the weeds he shamelessly plucked day and night to be able to extract its seeds and plant them in his Stream Ranch. He commends Nancy for that. He didn’t care one bit if she would take all the credit for it.

His entire year with the cowboys consists of grooming, feeding, farming, and riding horses every waking day of their lives that it had eventually become a routine.

Noah would sometimes stay at the farmhouse for several months. Like that one time, he wasn’t able to spend his time back at the rural town when a thunderstorm struck the place, or that time he had to send out probably a thousand shipments of meat to retailers that wanted to resell his poultry and livestock for a fair price in the market. He didn’t make a big deal about how much they would add in the wholesale, fresh from the Stream Ranch price he gave them. 

Chicken and cattle had been his clients’ all-time favorite. He would have to breed multiple times for his chicken’s population to triple their growth in number. His organic eggs had been top-notch and were reasonably affordable in the market. Of course, he sold them at a much lower price to their curious neighbors once in a while when he has extra trays than expected.

Milk had also been in demand ever since he did a dry run of bringing back the milkman in the town. It was to lessen the use of boxes and recycle glass bottles instead. The people became pumped up with the idea, and so they had subscribed to Noah’s daily delivery of freshly squeezed milk from a group of mother cattle.

Noah decided to hire ten delivery boys who had been looking for a side job they can somewhat gain a reasonable amount. After enlisting them, he specifically assigned one milkman in each area to deliver milk directly into their doorsteps. Money had been paid in advance via mobile banking or reaching the money directly to Noah when he’s around town riding Bean and his other horses. 

When his hired accountants had finished auditing the cause of Noah’s booming Stream Ranch for the entire month, they informed him of how big he’s spending with his packaging. He had come to the point of also planning on putting an assembling factory within acres full of land. He would do all the packaging and shipping inside of it, but he thought it wouldn’t be kind to the well-being of the animals if they see too many people coming in and out of their homes. And if he happens to make his packaging, he would have to resort in using more machinery and chemicals. There’s the well-known threat of inhaling pollution that can instantly damage their organs and cost them their lives.

Noah wants to keep his animals away from harmful chemicals that could ruin their body as time goes by. It wouldn’t only cost him a fortune, but it would also break his heart into a million pieces.

His cowboy employees continuously proved they are trustworthy and reliable. The same goes for how Noah had been a well-loved boss by the three of them.

Nancy had regularly seen him feeding and talking to the horses at six in the morning. She didn’t say anything about it, but she admired Noah’s dedication in training the horses, even though they weren’t precisely the type of breed you can make win the race. Noah admitted that he was no equestrian by profession, but he feels in his veins that he had been one in a past life.

Wynn and Nancy are still trying to finish the degree that they are taking. One time, Wynn went home, his brows furrowed as his eyes landed on a curious-looking Noah.

The lad explained that he wasn’t allowed to take the test unless he paid fully for his tuition.  From that confession, Noah felt the urgent need to visit Wynn’s school without him knowing.

Noah had to give the principal a twenty-minute lecture as to why such an act is considered oppression toward the right of a child for free education.

Coming home after school, Wynn sneaked behind him, but Noah managed to catch and grab him by his wrist. The lad hugged him tightly, and that his lungs are constricting that he runs out of oxygen to breathe.

Noah paid his entire tuition. He even hired Nick as his lawyer in an attempt to sue them. He once hated studying, but education should be considered free to people who work hard for it. Noah believes that the youth shouldn’t be caged in debt when they are still building their dreams.

Thomas’s eyes filled with tears. His face reddened as he immediately hid by brushing his face on his shirt’s sleeves. Noah hadn’t seen him that embarrassed in all the times they have been together in the Stream Ranch.

Noah patted him in the back and told him he owes him big time—for managing the Stream Ranch and being an honest employee when he’s away on his abrupt business (which he just happens to be transporting inside the Magic Ball to take care of the livestock and poultry he had been honing).

Thomas and Wynn thanked him again. A big smile that reached his ears was prominent in Wynn’s, while Thomas had a lopsided grin that made Noah grin back at him.

For the next five months of their lives inside the Stream Ranch, Noah had sponsored Nancy and Wynn’s expenses in school. He was making enough fortune for the people that stayed and cared for him when he needed someone in a foreign place he was unfamiliar with it.

By the end of March, he invited the three of them to a fancy dinner that wasn’t to Thomas’s liking, but since the young adults wanted to try being fancy once in a while, he gave in. Noah wouldn’t forget the way his face lit up when he ate the eight layered cake he specifically ordered for him. He saved Thomas’s pictured face on his phone.

Elijah had suddenly called out of the blue when Noah was having a nap underneath a tree with his three german shepherd dogs. Ginger was the first one to have to awaken him when his phone rang a hundred decibels beneath his khaki-colored pants.

Groaning, Noah took his call. Elijah screamed in his ears and told his older brother that he had the date of his wedding. Noah chuckled and advised him to tone down his voice because it’s ten in the evening in Italy right now.

You will attend, right? He asked, hopeful. As if Noah would miss his little brother’s wedding.

“Of course, you dummy! Who would want to miss your wedding?”

A nervous chuckle came. I bought you your favorite wine form Casa de Valencia. So please, you wouldn’t want this to put into waste, right?

Shaking his head, Noah rests his arm underneath his head. The sun hit his eyes, so he had to squint a little. Cole and Mik nuzzled on both sides while Ginger yawned and stretched her hand's high-up before curling on the grass.

Elijah continued pursuing Noah to attend his wedding even though Noah already assured him that he’s buying a ticket home the moment their call ends.

In the end, Elijah confessed he was just having wedding jitters that he didn’t know who else he would confide in.

The call ended an hour later.

Noah slipped his phone on his back pocket as he whistled for Snowflake and Bean to come back with him to the stables. He couldn’t overexpose the two of them. The sun’s harmful UV rays could have an adverse effect on the color of their fur, and Noah wouldn’t want that happening on his babies.

“Hi,” he greeted as Snowflake ran toward him with lightning speed. Noah felt a tightening in his chest as she ran with smooth speed around the pen. Snowflake halted gracefully in front of him. She nuzzled her nose beneath Noah’s neck, giving him kisses on the cheek. Then, she lowered her head to the three dogs as they barked at her cheerfully. Rolling her body on the lawn, Cole jumped on her belly. He licked her nose and went down to squeeze himself to her chest.

Noah observed that Snowflake seemed fond of Cole amongst his dogs. Not that Ginger and Mik mind it. 

A powerful vibration came about in his back pocket. He hooked his hat on the barn’s post as he jogged inside.

Sliding his thumb on the answer button, Noah pressed the phone lightly on his ear. “Hello?”

Noah! He heard screeching and inaudible voices. It’s happening.

“Brice?” he tried confirming. “Is this Brice?”

Yes! I’m calling from London.

A smirk eased on his lips, “Fancy now, are we?”

If he could see Brice right now, Noah’s sure he would have rolled his eyes at him.

You i***t, Brice practically shouted from the other end of the line. I’m here with Angela. We’re having a trip with her parents, and . . . he trailed-off.

Noah couldn’t wait. “What is it?”

It’s my wedding date. It’s happening on—

Noah almost stopped him when he said the month. But when he told him the date and place, he gave out a relieved sigh.

“I almost thought you had the same wedding date as my little brother!”

Laughter erupted from Brice, the line cracking a little bit. I thank the Gods we didn’t book on that date. So, is one week of preparation for transferring from one wedding to another good with you?

“What are you talking about? I love traveling!” he argued. His little brother’s wedding was set a week before Brice’s. He would have to travel ahead in Italy and then travel some more for Brice’s wedding up North.

Shrugging his shoulders to the animals that looked as if they were curious about the grin on Noah’s face, he walked out of the barn and proceeded to call a running Bean.

“Go inside, you beast.” Bean huffed at him as he rests his forehead on Noah’s.

“Come on. You need to rest.”

Days went by blissfully, and Noah hadn’t expected it.