Rivals In Love (Love In Montana Book 4)

After a very disturbing night, Georgia woke up early in the morning. Quickly freshening up, she decided to visit their dairy farm to check what was actually happening there. She drove all the way to the dairy farm and took an update on everything. Greg joined her after sometime as she checked with the vet about the kind of treatment going on. She checked the condition of the animals and the kind of milk output from the rest of the livestock. She checked their living conditions as well as the type of feed that they were being given. After a thorough research, she visited their state's Food And Agriculture Development Center at the marketplace to discuss the probable ways to combat the problem. Greg too accompanied her and they soon learnt everything that they needed to combat the disease. 

It was a very busy day as experts from Montana's FADC helped them to first segregate the healthy cattle from the infected ones. Since the disease spread due to feeding of contaminated feeds, such as stored forages that were cut too low to the ground in contaminated areas, they completely changed the stored forages. It was already evening by the time they were done for the day. After a brief visit to check up on Brian, Georgia returned to her home. Brian was improving but hadn't gained consciousness due to excessive blood loss when he had slit his wrists in an attempt to commit suicide. 

As Georgia was about to unlock her apartment, she remembered that she needed some grocery and food items for herself. So she drove to the departmental store and parked her car. Climbing out, she walked into the huge departmental store of Fordsville. She had nearly completed her shopping and billing when she saw Ryan walking into the store. He hadn't seen her yet and Georgia tried to be as inconspicuous as possible and hid behind a customer as she waited for her purchase to be packed up. 

She noticed that Ryan looked more mature than before. In fact he looked very good, taller and more muscular and Georgia was sure that he must be into a relationship by now. How could someone so good-looking still be single? So it was best if she could sneak away and not catch his attention. 'As if he'd recognize you!' Said her inner voice.

Georgia quietly slipped out of the store and loaded all her purchases onto her car. She was glad that she didn't need to talk to Ryan but deep in her heart there was a dull pain, a feeling of dejection. She made some sandwiches for herself for dinner and went to bed. It was a lonely life and she longed for the warmth of someone's arms. The years of training to strengthen her mind and body crumbled to dust as she felt a vacuum deep within her. Seeing him again made the love which was lying dormant in the deepest corners of her heart, come alive again.

Unknown to Georgia, Ryan had actually caught a glimpse of Georgia after five years at the departmental store but before he could approach her, she had disappeared. Was he hallucinating or was she really there? Did it mean that she was back? A strange excitement filled his whole body and he dashed out of the store to look for her but she had already disappeared from his sight. His heart thundered in his chest as he scanned the entire vicinity. He was sure that he hadn't imagined her. 

He went home in a daze and asked Ryder who knew everything that was happening at Fordsville from his huge network of friends. 

"Maybe, she's here to see Brian. He's in the hospital as he tried to commit suicide, " informed Ryder with a shrug. 

"Why did he need to commit suicide?" Asked a baffled Ryan. Ryder gave him a look.

"Which world are you in, dude? Don't you know that McLean's dairy farm is on the brink of bankruptcy after a lot of their cattle developed Anthrax?" Asked Ryder. Ryan shook his head slowly. He had no idea about all this. 

"Maybe Georgia returned to help out with the business, " suggested Ryder. Ryan nodded, so he really had seen Georgia. She was back for real.

The next three days, Georgia was very busy at the farm. They appointed a team of vets to vaccinate the healthy cattle and administer a strong dose of antibiotics to the infected ones. With the help of the officials of the FADC they resorted to proper disposal of mortalities to help limit the spread and recurrence of anthrax. Georgia spent the money her dad transferred to her account to buy new healthy cattle and everything started looking hopeful again.  Greg thanked her again and again for everything that she was doing for them. 

"I want you to stay in Fordsville, Georgia. I want you to help with the business. I'll complete the legal formalities to include you too in the partnership," offered Greg. Georgia declined. 

"Let Brian get better. Don't do anything without consulting him. I don't want any more misunderstandings in my life," she told him.

"If Brian doesn't agree to this, then I'll return back the money that you invested, Georgia, " offered Greg. Georgia could see that Lynne was right. Greg had changed a lot in the last five years. 

"We'll see about that," she shrugged. "So how's Brian?" She asked curiously. After seeing Ryan, Georgia knew that she couldn't stay in Fordsville for long without colliding into him and she wanted to avoid that at all cost. While Ryan might have moved on from her, she hadn't and she didn't want him to figure that out. So, since the business was looking hopeful, she waited for Brian to get better too. Then she would return to Laramie and continue with her life there.

"Brian's gained consciousness today morning, " said Greg with a smile of relief on his face. "He's stable now. I think he'll improve," said Greg. Georgia nodded but didn't tell Greg about her plans of leaving Fordsville yet. 

The next few days, Ryan impatiently scanned the marketplace for Georgia. He was hardly at home or work.   The whole day he roamed about like a lost soul in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Georgia somewhere, watching the McLean's house from afar but strangely he saw no sign of Georgia anywhere. He was frustrated, impatient yet he didn't give up hope of seeing Georgia. 

However, his wish soon came true and he saw her at the marketplace three days later. She was at the florists buying a beautiful bouquet of red roses. He stood outside, staring at her. She looked lovelier than before in a pale lemon yellow sundress. She came out of the shop and bumped straight into him. A 1000 volts of electric charge shot through his body at the collision. 

Georgia," he said as if in a daze. Georgia looked up at him with troubled eyes that mirrored a lot of pain and shock. 

Georgia was horrified to see him from so near. His touch on her arms made her tremble and all her courage and determination to stay aloof crumbled to dust. She had never imagined that she would meet him again so soon. The bouquet that she had bought to lay at her mom's grave, fell from her hands. Her eyes glistened with tears seeing him after so many years. He had grown up, his body had filled in so well. He looked more handsome than he ever did. Her heart swelled as she felt an immense surge of raw feelings surge through her body. Her heart recognized him. She still loved him so much and seeing him suddenly right in front of her made her upset. 

"Where did you go away, Georgia?" He asked in a hoarse voice. Georgia came out of her trance. The words and the insult the professor had lashed out at her suddenly rang in her ears. She stooped down and picked up her bouquet and ran to her car, leaving Ryan gaping after her. She drove away without looking back, wiping the tears off from her eyes with the back of her hand. Ryan stood transfixed to the spot. He wanted to run after her, he wanted to apologize for hurting her but couldn't. Seeing the tears in her eyes reminded him of the day, five years ago when he had lost her. However, one thing made him a little hopeful. She hadn't forgotten him. He was sure that she hadn't moved on. If she had, then she would have behaved indifferently to him. This hope made him feel a little better and he slowly went back home, thinking of a way to see her again and apologize. He had to meet her. Her behavior made him realize just how much he had hurt her.

But if his guess was correct and she hadn't moved on then he would again try to win her over. He wanted her and this time he would confess his feelings for her. He didn't care about her brothers any more and neither did he care about their business rivalry!