Chapter 5- Cattle and Dairy

~The next morning~

The sun began to rise as Razan and Hopper followed the scent northwest to a land with rolling hills often used for farmland. A sign on the road said, 'Ech Ech Ranch', leading to fenced in pastures with several barns and a manor near it.

Cattle was grazing on the land. The animals were white with many black spots across their bodies, horns and utters, standing around the height of Razan's hip. The cows were commonly held on farmland.

The herd of cows flocked towards the fence as they passed. Hopper's ears pointed up, and he let out at high-pitched barked. The cows all fled immediately, heading towards the nearby barn in the fenced in area.

Razan let out a small yawn as he passed by the fenced in area. He noticed a few men, clearly farmhands, all perched atop it watching the cattle. One of them caught sight of Hopper and looked to his buddies with an astonished look before flipping around on the fence to face Razan.

"That's quite the strange dog you have there... haven't seen many that big. What breed is it!?" The farmhand asked.

Razan answered, "A Chihuahua."

As they approached, Razan could feel Hopper tensing up. There were very few people whom the dog felt comfortable with. He could feel a growl coming on, but Razan scratched the dog behind his hear to try and ease him.

"What brings you into the area sir?" Another of the farmhands asked.

"I have some business to attend to."

"Oh, with Mister Nolan?" The farmhand replied, gesturing to the manor at the end of this stretch of farmland.

"Good guess." Razan lied. "I Better get to it."

Razan and Hopper continued, and the dog managed the tiniest of growls at the farmhands as they passed by them. It nearly caused one of the men to fall off his perch along the fence.

The Manor was a few stories tall with a few hedge statues of cows leading up to the entrance. There was a tacky sign out front with 'Ech Ech Manor' etched onto it, with a short cobblestone walkway leading to the door.

As far as Razan knew, this place was known for milk and dairy products. Hopper's steps slowed as they approached. This was definitely the place.

Razan stepped off Hopper near the front and said, "Stay here bud." Hopper's ears went back, and he sat in place.

Razan walked up the walkway, determined to leave with that chest. He rapped on the door a few times and waited for a response.

A balding blonde man in overalls opened the door, and a little girl stood at his side. Presumably the ranch owner and his daughter.

"Hello." The blonde man said opening the door wide, standing with his hands on his suspenders. If Razan didn't know he was the owner of this ranch, he'd have assumed he was a commoner. The man asked, "What can I do ya for?"

Before Razan could speak, his daughter excitedly blurted out, "Daddy! There's a big doggy!"

She pointed frantically at Hopper, who was waiting patiently at the end of the walkway of their home.

"Wow... That's a big dog."

"I know." Razan replied flatly, "You're Nolan?"

"That I am." Nolan replied cooly.

Razan folded his arms, and found himself sinking comfortably into an old persona of his... "You have something I want."

Nolan cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, "Really? What is that?"

"An old chest. Should be difficult to open. I'll be taking it off your hands." Razan said coldly.

Nolan scrunched up his nose, "... I can't say I like your tone."

"Where is it?" Razan pointedly asked.

Nolan narrowed his eyes. He seemed more annoyed than intimidated. He tapped his daughter on the shoulder, "Go play inside for a while. This man and I need to talk."

"But I want to see the doggy."

"Maybe later." Nolan said, nudging his daughter inside. Once she was out of earshot he spoke, "Want to try asking nicely?"

"Not really."

Nolan rolled his eyes and leaned against the door frame, "Well... if you must know, I have a chest like that upstairs. But my grandpappy bought that and it's become a bit of a family keepsake at this point. I'm not planning to part with it any time soon."

"Let's say that's not up to you," Razan replied. It was a line he'd said many times in the past when he was one of the Sky Bandits. It was more than enough of a threat for most to give him whatever he wanted. But... this man was a bit more hardy.

At first Nolan seemed annoyed. Then he chuckled and grabbed the door knob, "Oh, it's very much up to me. Good day sir."

Nolan went to close the door, but Razan placed a finger in the way and kept the door from closing. Nolan gave a confused look as he tried to force the door closed, but Razan's single finger kept it firmly open.

Razan thought for sure that show of strength would scare Nolan, but the man only seemed more irritated.

"Back off." Nolan grumbled, looking into Razan's eyes.

"Give me what I came here-" Razan's heart suddenly sank.

What am I doing?

Razan withdrew his finger and stepped away, "I'm S-sorry."

"You ought to be!" Nolan shouted, slamming the door shut.

Razan felt himself trembling a little bit. He meandered back to Hopper and the dog quickly came to his side.

Without even thinking about it, he started acting exactly how he used to as a Sky Bandit. The same intimidation and show of strength to get what he wanted. He could barely help himself it came so naturally. After his son went through all the trouble of helping him become a free man, he nearly messed it up all over again.

Razan yawned again and looked out at the rolling hills of the countryside... He considered returning to Veena's place. Calling this expedition, a waste of time to try and make up for past mistakes. He was sure she didn't really need that chest back.

Razan nearly mounted Hopper and started heading back, but that didn't feel like him. He was no quitter.

He eyed one of the hedge statues and beckoned Hopper to approach it with him.

"I could use a nap, what about you bud?" Razan said as he sat down cross-legged. Hopper eagerly sat down beside him, as if eager to cuddle with him. He closed his eyes, and the two rested beside the hedge statue.

Razan woke to light growls coming from Hopper. He opened his eyes and saw Nolan a short distance away with his hands on his suspenders. He had an amused look across his face.

"The dog doesn't seem very friendly."

The recently woken Razan stretched out his arms, "Don't worry about him. As long as you ignore him, he won't do anything."

"Hmm." Nolan grumbled, "Now what are you doin?"

"Waiting." Razan yawned, "For you to give me that chest."

"Hmm..." Nolan mumbled, "Suit yourself."

Nolan dismissed him with a nod and headed back to his manor. Not long after, Razan fell back to sleep beside Hopper.

It was sunset by the time Razan awoke. He had been going all night, his tiredness finally caught up to him. He looked around. In a window of the manor was Nolan's daughter. She had a small smile on her face as she looked at Hopper.

Razan glanced at the farmland where the cattle was fenced in. He saw several farmhands chasing after the cows, trying to herd them back into the barn. Very unsuccessfully.

He chuckled when one of the workers picked up a cow and tried to lug it all the way to the barn. The animals were small enough to be picked up, but still too heavy for any ordinary person to carry for long. He looked like he was going to throw his back out trying to carry it. The man lost his grip on the cow a short distance from the barn.

Razan knew it'd be easy task for him. He shrugged and stood. Why not help? He jumped several meters through the air over the fence and onto the pasture. He went to one of the cows, picked it up and tucked it under one arm. Then grabbed another and did the same. They were practically weightless for him.

"You're strong!" One of the farmhands remarked at the sight.

"I know." Razan replied, jogging with the cows and dropping them off at the barn. "Need some help?"

"If you're willing, we'll take it."

Razan made rounds across the property ferrying the cows to the barn while the other farmhands struggled to herd them in.

"Why not have your dog do it?" A farmhand asked as Razan set another cow near the barn.

"What do you mean?"

"Have him bark at them. It seemed to work earlier."

Razan shrugged and whistled for Hopper. The dog quickly came to the perimeter of the fence to meet him, "Hey bud, mind giving me a bark?"

Hopper's ears pointed up and was staring intently at him... the dog had no idea what he was asking.

"Of course now you don't want to bark. Umm... You know growl like before."

Razan bared his teeth and mimicked a growl, hoping for Hopper to understand. The dog tilted its head, looked to the cows, and let out a single high-pitched bark. As soon as he did, the entire herd scurried to the barn of their own volition.

"Thank you bud." Razan said, rubbing the scruff of Hopper's neck.

Night fell, and Razan waited near the hedge statues once again with Hopper. This time he was awake when Nolan came marching out to meet him.

He seemed more amused this time. "Still here, huh?"

"Mhmmm." Razan nodded.

Nolan ran his hands along his suspenders and paced out in front of him, "Why do you want that chest anyways?"

"It used to belong to a woman decades ago. I wanted to return it to her." Razan explained, "I'm guessing your 'grandpappy' probably bought that chest off someone who stole it."

"It wouldn't surprise me," Nolan nodded, "Well I don't plan to give it away just because you beg for it. Even if your manners have improved."

Razan put his arms behind his head and leaned against Hopper, "I'll keep waiting then."

Nolan nodded. He seemed almost impressed, "My workers tell me you and your dog helped them out today... You know, I used to have dogs that herded the cattle years ago. My workers are okay, but they can't compare."

Razan raised an eyebrow, "Okay..."

Nolan shrugged, "I'd trade that dog of yours for the chest. I'm sure it'd take some training, but he'd learn."

Razan chuckled, "I doubt that. I've tried training his dog. Doesn't work. Besides, it's not my dog to give."

Nolan shrugged, "That's a shame..."

With that Nolan pivoted and began marching back to his house. But before he made it, Razan had a rather creative idea. He stood and hollered, "Hey Nolan, I've got a better idea!"

Nolan pivoted with a smile and answered, "I'm listening."