Rivals In Love (Love In Montana Book 4)

Georgia got up and showered and then drove over to Wildcreek Ranch. It was already 10 o'clock in the morning and Georgia was a little apprehensive. 'God! I hope he hasn't left already!' She prayed in her mind.

Parking in front of Wildcreek Ranch, she looked at all the work going on at the premises. A wedding arch was being constructed and decorations were being brought in. It seemed that there was an upcoming wedding in the Wilson family. She walked in a little hesitantly. Would they throw her out after knowing who she was? 

The door opened and Rihanna walked out but froze seeing her at their doorstep. "Hi! Georgia, right?" She said with a smile. Georgia smiled back at the warm greeting. 

"Yeah," she answered. 

"I'm Rihanna, Ryan's cousin," she introduced herself. "Are you looking for Ryan?" She asked curiously. 

"Yes, it's urgent. Is he there?" Georgia asked hesitantly, looking inside. 

"You're an hour late, actually. Ryan left for Vegas at 9," she told her. Georgia's face fell and she stood frozen like a statue, staring at Rihanna. She couldn't believe that Ryan had actually left Fordsville forever. 

"Oh, he's left?" Gasped Georgia, feeling her heart sink. "I'll go then. Thanks a lot, Rihanna, " she said dejectedly, looking at Rihanna with a sad smile. 

"You can always call him," suggested Rihanna. Georgia shook her head.

"I don't have his number, " said Georgia.

"Give me you phone. I'll save his number for you," said Rihanna. Georgia handed her phone to her while her heart started beating faster and faster. Rihanna punched in Ryan's number and gave him a missed call without Georgia's knowledge. Then she saved his number on her mobile and handed it over to her.

"There you go," said Rihanna with a smile. Georgia smiled back.

"Thank you Rihanna. I should go now. I'll see you later, maybe, " said Georgia. Rihanna nodded.

"Sure, bye, " she said. Georgia left with her shoulders drooping with disappointment. She couldn't find the courage to call him. What would she say? How could she say that her heart was breaking and that she wanted to be with him? She drove over to the dairy farm like an automaton. She would help out for another week and then return to Laramie. She sighed thinking of Laramie. Somehow she didn't wish to go there and neither did she wish to stay back at Fordsville. Feeling restless the whole day, she somehow completed the day's work and returned home. 

Even at home, her mind wasn't at peace. A strange sense of loneliness filled her mind. She knew that Ryan wouldn't come over like last night. It made her heart heavy and she was just on the verge of tears. His parting words suddenly came to her mind. 

If you ever change your mind, come to Las Vegas. I'll be waiting for you forever,  till the day I die.

She picked up her phone and dialed his number. After two rings, he accepted her call but Georgia was too frozen to speak.

"Hello? Who's this?" Asked Ryan impatiently. He had just moved into his new two-bedroom apartment after reporting to his workplace. Georgia froze hearing his voice. Was he angry? She couldn't bring herself to speak as silent tears fell from her eyes. 

Ryan heard the heavy breathing and a sob escaping from the other end and he was on alert. He listened quietly. Was someone crying at the other end? Georgia?

"Georgia?" Asked Ryan softly. Georgia panicked when he recognized her. She quickly disconnected the phone, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Ryan stared at his phone with wonder. He received two calls from the same number. Was it Georgia? Was she crying for him? He wondered where she got his phone number from. Did she go to his house?

He called back on the same number but Georgia didn't accept the call. After trying numerous times, he called Rihanna to ask her if Georgia had gone to Wildcreek Ranch. Rihanna told him about Georgia's visit. 

"She was so heartbroken when she heard that you left, Ryan. I'm sure that she's in love with you," said Rihanna. 

"Oh! Should I return?" Asked Ryan excitedly. Rihanna laughed.

"You really are crazy, baby bro. I have a better idea. Why don't you fix a job for her there and call her and inform her? She would then go to Vegas to you," suggested Rihanna. Ryan's heart started beating faster and faster. He loved Rihanna's advice.

"That's a wonderful idea, Anna but I don't have her number," said Ryan. Rihanna grunted impatiently. 

"Of course you have. I gave you a missed call today morning from Georgia's phone. I saved your number in hers," said Rihanna with a grin. Ryan grinned hearing about his sister's handiwork. 

"Thanks Anna, you're the best," said Ryan. 

"I know that I'm awesome. I just want you to be happy, bro," said Rihanna. After a little more chatting, Ryan disconnected the call. He checked the number which had called him a few minutes back. It was the same number which had given him a missed call in the morning. Georgia's number. He wouldn't call back now. He would first fix up a job for her here in Las Vegas and then call her. 

The next few days, Ryan spoke to Russell if he could help find a job for Georgia as well. Russell spoke to his friend, Scott Glenbrook who was the owner of Glenbrook Nature Sanctuary. Scott informed him about his brand new venture, Glenbrook Petting Zoo and Farm where they gave pony rides to children as well. There was a water park with a huge aquarium too and the place needed a nutritionist to look after all the animals present. Russell suggested Georgia's name and they were eager to interview her. 

A week had passed by since Ryan had left Fordsville. Georgia dragged on at the dairy farm everyday and returned home in the night to weep into her pillow at night. She had been unable to decide what to do.  Her heart wanted to go to Las Vegas but she was scared. What if Ryan had changed his mind? What if he didn't want her any more? 

Suddenly the doorbell rang and she was on high alert. It was dinner time and she couldn't figure out who it could be at her doorstep at this odd hour. Did her brothers arrive again to discuss something? But she wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with her brothers. So she peeped through her window and froze seeing Wyatt at her doorstep. What would she do? She hurriedly picked up her phone and called Ryan. That was an involuntary reaction. It didn't register in her head that she could call her brothers. All her training of self defense crumbled to dust as panic settled in her mind. Wyatt was physically more powerful with an evil mind. She could never defeat him in a fight given her current state of mind. 

After three rings, Ryan accepted her call, leaving his dinner. He knew that it was Georgia calling him and he couldn't wait to tell her the news of the job interview. 

"Hello, Georgia?" He asked softly. 

"Ryan, he's here, " choked Georgia in a scared and panicked voice. The color on Ryan's face disappeared completely hearing her voice. He wished immediately that he was there with her. 

"Who? Wyatt?" Asked Ryan gently.

"Yeah, he's ringing the doorbell. I didn't open the door but I know that he'll break it down soon," she whispered. 

"I'll call Rhett and he'll arrive soon with the sheriff and his team. Okay? Just hold on. I'm disconnecting this call to call up Rhett. Don't panic, Georgia and don't open the door. Do you hear me?" Said Ryan. 

"Yes," whispered Georgia. Ryan disconnected the call and immediately called Rhett and informed him. He then called back Georgia who accepted his call immediately. He could hear her doorbell ringing incessantly in the background. 

"Georgia, are you okay?" He asked her. 

"Yes. He'll break down the door it seems," said Georgia helplessly. 

"Let him. Yell for help if he does. Your landlord will hear you and come to save you. I've already informed Rhett, my brother. He should be there with the sheriff anytime. Don't hang up, Georgia. I want to ensure that you're safe, " said Ryan.

"Why did you have to go away? Why did you have to leave me all alone?" Asked Georgia, her eyes filling up with tears of helplessness. "No one wants me. Everyone leaves me. First my mom, then my dad and how you," she sobbed. Ryan froze like a statue hearing her heartbroken words. 

"You can always come to me, can't you Georgia? I have fixed a job interview for you too here. I'll send you a ticket and my address," said Ryan. Georgia wiped her eyes with disbelief. Did she hear him correctly? The incessant noise of the doorbell made it difficult for her to hear him properly. 

"You've arranged a job for me in Las Vegas?" Georgia asked hesitantly. 

"Yes," said Ryan.

"Why?" Asked Georgia, her heart beating fast as she waited for his answer.

"Because I can't live without you," said Ryan. Georgia blushed at his cheesy line.

"But I don't have any place to stay there," she pointed out.

"I want you to stay with me," he told her. The sound of the police cars outside alerted her. 

"Ryan, I think the police are here. I'll call you later," she told him, disconnecting the call. The next few minutes, the sheriff arrested Wyatt for charges of harassment. Rhett ensured that she was safe before leaving. Georgia thanked them and gave her statement against Wyatt. As she locked her door she checked the four messages that Ryan sent her. The first one asked for her email address. The second one was his own address at Las Vegas. The third one was to know about what happened. And the fourth one simply ordered her to start packing up. Georgia smiled excitedly and typed in her email address and within five minutes she received a ticket to Las Vegas. 

Her mouth hung open seeing that the scheduled date of departure was tomorrow. She would have to leave by 6 o'clock, tomorrow evening?