Millennial in another millennium

Ch-12 The one with the promise

Small houses dotted the landscape with smoke coming out of their chimneys and the aroma of freshly baked goods filling the entire atmosphere. I have never seen something so bucolic in my life.

Riding through the cobbled street between these wooden houses would have been so charming if it were not for my stomach that was practically roaring from hunger and my companion chuckling.

"Can you stop it already?", I said to Zion with looking at him with pointed eyes.

"Let me think my lady...hmm... should I stop... no.", said Zion.

We bickered back and forth before we came to a stop in front of a friendly looking house with a beautiful rose garden. I looked at Zion quizzingly, while he looked at the house with a look of adoration across his features. As he got off the horse back, his eyes were uncharacteristically soft and his lips formed a genuine smile.

I continued to check him out as he reached the door and knocked excitedly on it. I gotta say he looked hot when he was not being a jerk.

I heard the door open and saw an old kind lady in a crocheted poncho come out and hug Zion affectionately.

Was she his grandma?

"Ray, Ray come here", Zion yelled after exchanging some words with the lady. "Ray, what are you doing there? Come here and meet nana."

I was about to admit, rather embarrassingly, that I needed his help to get off Mac. Yes, I named this horse Mac. He deserved it, period. When Nana hit Zion gently on the head before saying, " Haven't I taught you any manners young man? You are yelling like a hooligan at the pretty girl instead of helping her get off the house.", then she turned to me with a slightly mischievous yet warm smile ,"Don't worry sweetie, I will remind him of his manners while you both stay here". I liked this woman already.

"What are you doing here standing still? Go and get her to me.", she told more like semi-yelled at Zion.

Zion quickly came by my side with a grimace on his face.

While helping me down, he whispered in my ear, "Don't get used to it"

I turned to face him and said while mimicking his Nana , " So you wouldn't help a lady? Where are your manners young man?"

The fact that my head barely reached his shoulders and I had to tilt my head to look into his eyes, reduced the mocking factor of my speech and he just smirked. Ugh... should have drank all those height increasing potions as a teenager.

I stomped my way to the door where something shocking happened.

Nana hugged me while whispering, "Everything will be okay, don't worry sweetie."

I swear I saw tears glittering in her pity filled eyes.

To say I felt super awkward would be an understatement. For a moment I completely froze.

Zion coughed slightly and that reminded of the fact the usually people hug you, they expect you to hug them back and that is what I did.

After breaking the hug, Nana guided us into her house which was very similar in both its size and structure to the cottage in which I had been living. What made her house so much better was the warm ambience it offered. Every corner of her house was filled with life.

I could not stop my stomach from rumbling at the sight muffin sitting on the table.

Nana and Zion both chuckled at this.

"Go ahead and have one, sweetie.", Nana offered.

I did as she said and let me tell you all, there seemed to be heaven in my mouth as I devoured the muffin.