Stay (Love In Montana Book 5)

 

Anastasia looked out of the car window with her cheeks flushed red. She knew that Renée was dying to ask her details. She was ashamed to talk to her about her brother. What would Renée think of her? That she was so desperate that she had to hot upon her brother out of all the guys of Fordsville? 

It was the most picturesque drive of Anastasia's life. Although she came here from her boarding school to spend her holidays with her grandparents every time, she hadn’t been able to see Fordsville properly. Her time was mostly spent at her grandparents house helping them with their bakery. She watched with wonder everything around as the car crossed vast ranches, farms, gurgling creeks and vast plains of wildflowers and steel granaries set against the backdrop of rolling hills. As they drove to their destination, the topography changed with altitude becoming more rugged, mountainous and more forested. They reached Dillon district in two hours and stopped at a clearing amidst the mountains. She could see the others waiting for them in front of a rustic cabin located on a hillside in a sunny, open prairies. The range straddles the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho. The view from the cabin overlooks the grassy meadows of Horse Prairie

"That's Coyote Cabin. This side is the southern edge of the Beaverhead Mountains. This range straddles the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho," said Sawyer. Anastasia and Renée nodded looking at the lush green meadows disappearing into a Creek beyond. "Those meadows beyond are the Horse Prairies and that's Coyote Creek, " Sawyer informed them. They stared wide eyed at the beautiful place and the little rustic cabin where they would be staying. 

"Wow, it’s so secluded!" Exclaimed Renée. Sawyer parked his truck in front of the cabin.

"It is but don’t go out alone, grizzlies inhabit the place,” warned Ryder.

"Oh, I would never go anywhere without you,” said Renée with scared eyes. Rex and the others had reached, except Rhett and Adelaide of course.

“They might need be having a secret date on the way!” chuckled Ryder. They all agreed and passed jokes around. After a few minutes, they too arrived and everyone teased them to no end. Rex was busy inspecting the cabin with a forest service staff who handed them their keys. He gathered everyone around him and gave them updates and guidelines about bear and avalanche safety. He also briefed them about the rules and regulations of the forest. When he left, they all went inside the cabin to inspect. 

"There's no electricity here?" Asked Adelaide wide-eyed. 

"This place is fuelled by propane," informed Rhett. Adelaide nodded inspecting the kitchen where she found a wood burning stove for heating. Propane appliances included a stove, oven and overhead lighting. The kitchen area of the cabin was stocked with basic cookware, utensils, dishes and tableware. There was ample cupboard and counter space for food preparation and storage. Ryan, Rihanna and Ryder brought in all the food and groceries that they needed for two days. Adelaide and Rhett arranged them in the cabinets and the propane fuelled refrigerator. 

Renée and Anastasia went to inspect the two bedrooms of the log cabin. There were adequate bunk beds and mattresses to sleep up to six people in each room, along with tables and chairs. 

"The girls in one room and the guys can sleep in the other," announced Renée. 

"First let's get this place cleaned, c'mon give me a hand all of you, " said Rex, checking the cleaning equipment provided. He handed Renée, Anastasia and Sawyer brooms and mops and pails. He also started cleaning along with them. Later the others too joined in after their kitchen work was done. 

"There's no washroom here?" Asked Anastasia, looking for a washroom everywhere. Adelaide and Rihanna stared at her with horror. 

"It's outside. See that outhouse? There's a vault toilet in that," informed Sawyer. 

"I can't go alone to that place after dark," said Adelaide, shuddering a little. "What if a grizzly eats me alive," she said with round scared eyes. 

"Bears rarely eats humans. They attack and injure you if they feel threatened, " informed Rhett. 

"Oh, still I won't go alone, " said Adelaide. 

"I'll go with you, okay?" Said Rhett with a smirk. Adelaide looked away. 

"What about us, Rhett?" Asked Renée. 

"You can tell me," offered Sawyer. Renée looked at him with surprise. Ryder gazed at Anastasia who looked away. No way! Why would she ask him to accompany her to the washroom? She would go alone if the need arises.

"So it's decided that no one will go out alone after dark," said Rex and everyone agreed. The cleaning was done finally and they all slumped onto the sofas to relax, sipping mixed fruit juice that Rihanna brought. 

"Let's go fishing to Coyote Creek, guys," said Sawyer, getting up to take out his fishing gear from his truck. Rex, Rhett and Ryan joined him eagerly. "Ryder, aren't you coming?" Asked Sawyer seeing him sitting beside Anastasia watching her and Renée giggle while they discussed grizzlies. 

"I think I'll stay here. I'll take some pictures of those elks out there," he said glancing at Anastasia. 

"Where?" She asked him, her attention fully upon him now. He gazed into her eyes, his heart doing a somersault as he drowned in the depths of her eyes. Renée got up and smacked his arm bringing him to his senses. 

Ryder got up and pulled Anastasia up with him, leading her to the door to show a herd of elk near the cabin. Renée rolled her eyes. "Hey wait for me," she said rushing after them. The boys went fishing while Ryder, Renée and Anastasia were busy watching the elk. Ryder clicked a picture of Anastasia when she wasn’t looking. He turned it into his wallpaper and admired it on the sly. He wanted to talk to Anastasia alone but Renée stick to them like a sticky tape and he just roamed around the meadows with them. Ever since that conversation in the car, Anastasia had been exceptionally quiet. She hadn’t once spoken to him and he was bothered by it. He wanted to clarify with her and tell her that he was just kidding. 

“Ryder, why didn’t you go fishing?” asked Renée.

“My wish! Why didn’t you go fishing?” he asked her instead. If she would have gone fishing, he could have spoken to Anastasia. 

“My wish!” glared Renée. “Don’t you have any other work to do? Why are you following us like a creep?” said Renée. 

“It’s okay, Ren, relax. We’ve come here to enjoy. Let him come along. At least we’ll be safe from the grizzlies,” said Anastasia, her cheeks going red when Ryder raised an eyebrow at her. Renée gave her bestie a look of disbelief. 

“Are you ditching me? How can you support my horrid brother, Anna?” she asked looking hurt. 

“No, I’m just..,” started Anastasia, blushing furiously. 

However, before she could finish her sentence, Rihanna yelled from the cabin for Renée. Her phone which she had left back at the kitchen was vibrating non stop. Renée rushed to attend to bed phone. Anastasia was about to follow her when Ryder caught her hand to stop her from fleeing. This was the opportunity he had been looking for and he wouldn’t let it go. Anastasia looked up at him with surprise. When they were alone, Ryder led her further away from the cabin, his arm hand still holding onto hers.

“Ryder, what are we doing here?” asked Anastasia shyly. 

“Walking hand in hand, what else do you think?” asked Ryder with a smirk. “Have you forgotten the name you gave me?” Asked Ryder, disappointed that she didn’t call him Blue. It sounded like an endearment coming out of her lips and he would never tire of listening to it. 

“That’s a silly name. I’ll call you by your proper name,” said Anastasia. Ryder looked displeased but tightened his hold on her hand. 

“No, I want you to call me Blue. I like it,” said Ryder. Anastasia nodded quietly and didn’t argue further. Ryder breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Who would have thought that the one I was looking for would turn out to be my little sister’s best friend!” said Ryder with a chuckle. 

“You were looking for me?” asked Anastasia with surprise. Ryder’s jaws dropped at his foolish admission. What she must be thinking of her now! 

“Yeah, I was,” said Ryder, crossing his fingers that she wouldn’t ask him why. 

“Why?” asked Anastasia, looking bewildered. 

“To give you the bill, of course. Why else would I want to look for you,” he told her, saving himself just in the nick of time. 

“Oh!” said Anastasia, looking a little disappointed.

“And to get my dues as well,” said Ryder with a smirk. 

“What dues?” asked Anastasia, turning to look at him. Ryder held her gaze  not allowing her to look away. 

“I don’t give my expert suggestions for free, you know. You took my service, so don’t you think you need to pay for it?” asked Ryder, leaning a little so that they were at the same level, eye to eye, nose to nose.