Undercover Princess Mia

Chapter Seven

The place was so warm, vibrant and luminous because of the trees being so tall with dark leaves that partially blocked the heat and brightness of the gauzy sun, allowing only some rays to pass through the gaps. The soft, light-green coloured grass was well-trimmed and there were these little yet full of life yellow flowers growing in between, like each flower on it's own was resembling a mighty sun.

I quickly removed my slippers and walked bare foot on the tickling grass, a very old habit of mine. It felt so nostalgic since all the reminiscence of my childhood with my sister playing in our huge, palace garden came on me like a massive wave striking the shore.

"Now tell me, isn't it wonderful?" Noah asked, stood beside me and crossed his arms against his broad chest.

I nodded and beamed in awe, "Of course it's wonderful! Only a fool would disagree with you!"

He looked pleased, but covered it up by talking in a solemn voice, "Glad to know, but you agreed."

"I don't know what you're implying by that," I mumbled and pouted, my eyebrows drawing into a deep frown. He glanced at me and smiled brightly, his smile so contagious that I couldn't hold back, so I turned around and smiled surreptitiously.

"I know you're smiling," Noah stated nonchalantly and was standing right behind me.

"Nope," I denied playfully since of course, he couldn't see me. I mean how could he, my back was turned to him and . . .

"But the car's rear view mirror cannot be mistaken, strawberry."

I looked towards the car and saw Noah smirking at me. Oh, stupid, stupid me! I mentally face palmed and scowled. Behind him, I noticed an old shed at a distance which immediately caught my attention. I ran towards it while Noah was jogging after me, chuckling all the way.

"Look at these horses, I wonder to who they belong?" I asked in wonder and entered the shed.

"They're mine."

"Really?" I squealed and Noah nodded which made my eyes lit up like a five year old on Christmas, eagerly waiting for a gift from Santa. The only difference was that Noah was my Santa and it was not Christmas yet.

But the point was, Noah owned these well-built horses! These horses reminded me of Prince Charles, I missed him dearly.

"My dad bought these horses eleven years ago," Noah explained. "We hired an old couple to take care and feed them, they come in the morning. They are really affectionate towards these horses like these horses are their own babies."

"Awesome!" I chirped enthusiastically and followed Noah. He led both the horses into the field were then let loose. Noah quickly went out of the field and locked the door.

"Hey! I'm still inside, but course you didn't hear me," I muttered and silently saw Noah dissappear. These two horses looked harmless and I didn't mind staying with them since I had a lot of knowledge about them.

I patted the two horses and caressed their back tenderly while delightfully humming the tune of 'Cowboy take me away' by Dixie Chicks. I would be delighted if a certain blue eyed boy took me away . . .

"Huh?" I looked at Noah who was standing right in front of me, snapping his fingers to draw my attention.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Noah asked and I shook my head frantically.

"Come out of your little world, will you?"

I nodded slightly, suddenly becoming conscious and aware of the little space between us. One step forward by either of us and our lips would touch. My cheeks became hot, pink and flushed. Sensing my discomfort, Noah took a few, respectable steps back.

I shyly looked down at his hands which were occupied by a Polo stick and a ball. He then threw it on the grass dejectedly while kicking a random stone.

"Next month, we have a Polo match which is held after every five years, here in Benignton--- "

"Oh, good."

"--- yeah and I'm in the team. This would be the first time though."

"That's great! So why are you so unsure? Don't you know to play?" I asked curiously and his sardonic laugh conveyed the answers to my questions. "Then how on earth did you land up in the team?"

He let out a sigh and said, "My dad was a great Polo player, the best in the town. So they automatically assumed me to be one."

"Your father didn't teach you?"

"Sure he did. He taught me how to hold a stick and how to ride a horse," he said bitterly and kicked the ball in annoyance.

I asked dubiously, "So what's the problem?"

"Do you expect me to play, when I barely know how to hit the ball?" He snapped at me and I faintly nodded in agreement.

He started walking towards the shed and I quickly grabbed his wrist.

"Wait! I can help you with that!" I offered while patting the white horse.

"Can you?"

"You don't believe me, do you?" I asked with a smug expression on my face while he just gawked at me. Sitting comfortably on the horse, I kicked it gently, grabbed the polo stick and grinned at Noah.

* * *

"Where did you learn this?"

"Back in London, I used to enjoy this game a lot. My dad taught me," I said proudly and mind you, it was the truth. Noah was pretty impressed by my skills in horse-riding and in polo too which made my chest swell in pride.

We were now near the river, a little away from the shed. The water in the river was flowing swiftly, turning the usually bluish brown water milky white. The rhythm and sound of the flowing water was soothing to my ears as I smiled faintly. Noah and I were both sitting on the horses. I was on the gorgeous, white one while he was on the shiny, brown one.

"What are the name of these horses?" I shouted the question since Noah was a little away and all one could hear was the river singing. He probably heard me since he turned to my direction and came quickly riding his horse, a little faster than usual.

He looked marvelous riding a horse, his sultry, dark brown hair bouncing all the way and his deep blue eyes locking into my green ones. His chest broad and his arms quite strong to lead the horse. He just lacked a cowboy hat on his head, but it didn't matter much.

"Noah, what are the names of these horses?" I repeated the question once he was near to me.

"The brown one is called Coco and the white one is Peggy."

"Peggy is unusual, but a sweet name nevertheless."

"Kyle had Peggy renamed, earlier his name was Rob," He said and gently ran his hand over Coco's back.

"Rob was a fine name too, wasn't it?" I asked the horse in a baby voice which made Noah chuckle.

"Well, it was. But Kyle wasn't convinced and renamed it as Piggy. Mum had to explain to him a lot that piggy cannot be a horse's name, so he finally agreed on Peggy."

"Oh, Kyle is a darling. But he agreed on Coco?"

"Sure he did, because it sounded like his favourite chocolate drink," Noah continued to tell tales of Kyle and we both laughed lightly.

And then suddenly an idea popped in my head from nowhere which made me grin like a fool and Noah raised his eyebrow in question.