60 Smothered
1214 Words
Noah decided not to show his reaction. Just brief questions to catch the perpetrators. “Who, then?”
Taylor crossed one arm, the other leaning and holding his chin, “Wait. Was it Wynn?” he also looked confused.
Soon, everyone inside the room was already a suspect in Noah's view. "What?" now he did sound shocked. Does that mean that news of him having his own weaning farm already got out? It was the thing he avoided that most; everyone knowing about the weaning farm equated to everyone taking a step closer to the Magic Ball's secrets.
“Ah!” Taylor said. “It was your father.”
Noah was disappointed, but he didn't want to show. He really didn't. Although at the moment, it still resurfaced. His face was an unbreakable stone.
"Oh, I see," crossing his other leg, "but I do have one. And they are specializing in the weight, food, and overall nutrition of the yearlings.”
“Good. That means we can add that to the market.” Taylor said with enthusiasm.
Mentally, Noah scrapped the idea in an instant.
“You’d advertise that I have a special weaning farm…?” he looked more and more reluctant than he did before.
Taylor nodded earnestly, "You don't want to? I think it would be a great idea that would capture the consumer's attention. It's like they have entrusted to a thorough rancher that puts effort into caring for his calves."
“But I’m sure there are many ranchers that do the same," he reasoned. The sweat went down his spine.
“Yes. But there’s none in our town does,” his grin widened.
Noah succumbed to the idea of a weak later.
When he checked the calves in the Magic Ball, he realized that their weight was regulated—even without anyone to aid them. He didn't know if it was due to the lake or the enormous tree before him.
A month went by again, and Taylor proved him right.
The calves were sold out in a matter of minutes. And they were sold at prices considerably higher for the first time in the said field. Their marketing didn't only boost the number of customers, but also the amount they sold to their local auction yards.
The Stream Ranch had been the recent talk in the market. The profit was small, but Taylor commended Noah for making it far more significant than the other ranchers got.
Mary, her soon-to-be husband, and Elijah’s children arrived safely in the Stream Ranch.
Noah arranged for them to be picked up as he was busy tending to his quarterly harvest of hays. On top of that, he was hands-on when it came to training the horses. And even though he knew that they weren’t racing, he still loved building their stamina for riding.
Upon stepping in front of Noah's door, Mary and her jolly voice resounded up to the dining area. And everyone who sat there knew that she has arrived.
When her mother opened the wooden door, Mary braced herself and jumped toward her mother's open arms.
She huffed, and if not for their father supporting her mother's back, the two would have fallen on the wooden floor of the farmhouse.
“It’s been so long, mother!” she flooded her mother’s face with kisses that left red patches all over the skin.
Her mother pushed her away, the distaste showing on her face, “Oh, you silly child. Look what you have done?”
“Smothered in kisses!” their father commented behind. He quickly shut his mouth when their mother turned around and glared at him.
Wiping a hair, their mother crossed her arms, “Come along now.” She reached out her hand to two children hiding behind Mary’s legs. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
“Run along, children. Grandmother definitely has some lovely sweets,” Mary said as she bent down and kissed the top of their heads.
Evan giggled, while Emma’s face tinted with a pink color.
Mary coiled her arms on her fiance’s arm, “Let’s go, darling. We will be living here in a while.”
“Lovely,” her fiance, Edward, commented on the interior around the house. Noah was at the base of the stare when he glimpsed at them.
“Oh, brother!” Mary’s smile widened as he let go of Edward’s hand.
She embraced him as her mother yelled a warning, "Careful with the kisses."
"Alright," Noah called, chuckling, "You heard that?" he eyed suspiciously on a Mary with her red lips in a pout.
“I’m not aware that she disliked kisses now.”
“I guess she grew out of it.”
She widened her eyes, “Oh, no! Getting… old?” she whispered the last bit of her sentence.
Noah fought hard to not burst like a firework. “I assume it’s that so that I wouldn’t have to worry.”
Mary’s face lighted in agreement.
“Brother,” Edward came forward as Evan passed by in front of him. The little one headed to where Emma was comfortable sitting.
“It’s been ages,” Noah hugged him. “How have you been?”
"Good, I might say," Edward's stare slit toward a smiling Mary.
Noah raised his eyebrows, “Any plans on canceling the wedding?”
“Hey!” that had earned him a light punch from Mary.
Edward laughed, “Let’s talk about it when she’s not around.”
Noah was already running away as he heard Edward say, "later, brother! We should drink your worries away!”
Mary frowned at them, "Don't you dare!" she called from up the stairs.
Edward laughed while carrying their luggage.
Sitting down on the sofa, the soft cushion flopped, the two children shocked by the sudden movement.
Noah looked at them, apologetically, "Sorry. I forgot you two were around."
His two niece and nephew. Evan had been here before, but Emma was left at her mother's side when they visited Noah's farmhouse. Now, the lot of them are leading a new life in his Stream Ranch.
Evan is almost two years old while Emma already turned three. Both are still little yet lovable.
Noah scooped Evan on his thigh. The little boy was as quiet as he’ll ever be. His eyes are falling down, so Noah had him lean on the crook of his neck.
Emma watched, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Noah figured she wants the same treatment as her little brother, “Come here.” He patted his free hand on Noah’s thigh, “this one is for Emma.”
He laid Emma sidewards, her ears pressed on his thigh. The little girl played with her curly, red hair that she inherited from her mother. Her feet swayed on the sofa as Noah caressed her back in a gentle, loving way.
Slowly, her eyelids began falling. The two of them sleeping with their uncle’s embrace.
The following day, Taylor brought his grandchildren to the farm.
“I was hoping they could make good friends,” he ushered them to introduce themselves.
One little boy stepped forward, "I'm Norman. It's nice to meet you, sir."
“Uncle Noah would suffice,” Noah gave him a smile, the little blond boy smiling back.
“And this,” Taylor caressed the head of the little girl beside him, "is Anna. She's his little sister. They haven't played with a lot of kids around town, so when you mentioned you are bringing your niece and nephew in a couple of days,
it would be a good opportunity for them to play together.”
Noah wasn't much of a player when he was just a child. He immersed his head in reading books and playing basketball with his brother and sister when they had free time not to study. He figured it was kind of Taylor to bring over her grandchildren. His niece and nephew would surely love their company, especially now that they were in a new environment.
- Writer
