Only You (Love In Montana Book 6)

Renée lay on her bed and kept thinking about what he said. She was very confused by his contradictory statements. One moment he gave her hope and the other moment he snatched all hopes away from her. She had no idea why he tortured her this way. It was a simple yes or a no. Either he loved her or he didn't but he never gave her a simple answer.

The next morning, Adelaide came over and Rihanna, Ryder and Ryan started planning a trip to Beaverhead National Forest. "It's just a 2 hours drive away. Renée you should also join us," said Rihanna. Renée thought of her best friend Anastasia who always wanted to go on a trip with her. She lived with her grandparents here in Fordsville while her family lived in Las Vegas. 

"Let me call Anastasia and ask her if she wants to come along," said Renée. Sawyer was walking towards the stables. He stopped in his tracks.

"Where are you planning to go with your best friend?" He asked Renée. She shrugged and turned her back towards him. She was angry with him for not completing his sentence last night. He walked towards her and took the phone from her hands.

"I'm asking you something Ren," he pointed out. Renée tried to take her phone back but he held it high and she just reached till his shoulders.

"I asked you something too last night. Remember?" She reminded him. Sawyer laughed.

"What are you guys talking about? What's cooking between you two?" Whisper asked Rihanna, coming closer to them.

"Nothing Anna. I'm asking her where you guys are going and she isn't answering me," complained Sawyer.

"We're all going to Beaverhead National Forest. Are you coming along?" Asked Rihanna. Sawyer looked at Renée.

"Yeah, she's coming along too," said Rihanna. Now she was sure that the two of them were into one another. Sawyer's cheeks flushed a little and he returned Renée her mobile phone.

"Sure I'll come along," he told them, whistling and going towards the stables.

Rhett was already there training the horses and since he wasn't aware of their plans, Rihanna and Adelaide went to inform him. After twenty minutes, they all started getting ready to go out on a two day trip. The door opened and a cute seventeen year old girl peeped inside. 

"Is Renée at home?" She asked Rihanna who was ready and waiting for the others.

"Anastasia?" Asked Rihanna. Anastasia wasn't very social and only came over twice before to their house. Rihanna hadn't had the opportunity to meet her before.

"Yeah," said the girl with a shy smile seeing so many strangers staring at her. Her greenish-blue dress matched with the color of her eyes as her eyes straight went to Ryder who froze with the burger in front of his open mouth. Rihanna checked what made her color profusely and giggled away seeing Ryder's condition. 

"Bro, either eat it or give it to me," she said to him. "Ryan, go and inform Renée that her friend's here," said Rihanna, getting up to help the shy girl. Rex came out of his room with his bag and looked at Anastasia. Ryder gestured something at him and he started grinning. 

"Come inside please, Anastasia. Renée will be here any minute. I'm Rihanna, her cousin, that's Rhett and Rex, my siblings. That's Ryder, Renée's sibling. You saw Ryan her other sibling, who's gone to fetch her," introduced Rihanna. Rhett smiled and waved at her. 

Renée came out, all ready to go and so did Adelaide and they all hugged their parents and kissed their grandparents and went outside. "I'll go with Renée and Anastasia," said Sawyer.  

"I'm coming along too, bro," said Ryder. 

"I'll drive Adelaide," said Rhett and they all awed at him. His cheeks colored a little. 

"I can drive Rihanna and Ryan, " said Rex. 

"Done, let's get going then?" Said Sawyer. It was a trip they all looked forward to. Rex drove away just as Rhett started his truck. Sawyer too drove away and Rhett followed them.

It was the most picturesque drive and Renée and Anastasia poured out of the car windows, staring outside with winder.

"Bro, how do you know the route so well They?" Asked an impressed Ryder.

"We came here when I was fifteen, don't you remember?" Asked Sawyer.

"Not much. Only hazily, " shrugged Ryder.

"I've never been to a National Forest before. I'm so excited. Thanks for informing me and having me with you, " said Anastasia.

"Anytime girl. We'll enjoy together, " said Renée. She could sense Sawyer's gaze upon her every now and then through the rear view mirror but she wouldn't look at him. She was still mad at him.

They 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.

Sawyer saw that Rex had reached first and they were waiting for them in front of a rustic cabin located on a hillside in a sunny, open prairies. The range straddled the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho. The view from the cabin overlooked the grassy meadows of Horse Prairies.

"That's Coyote Cabin. This side is the southern edge of the Beaverhead Mountains. This range straddles the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho. Can you see those meadows beyond?" Rhett asked them, pointing at grassy meadows overlooking the cabin. They nodded looking at the lush green meadows disappearing into a Creek beyond. "Those are the Horse Prairies and that's Coyote Creek, " he informed them. 

Afterwards 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. They went to inspect the kitchen and 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. Now Rihanna was sure that Sawyer was in love.

"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. 

Ryder pulled her up with him and led 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. Sawyer watched her with interest, all fishing plans forgotten. He wanted to take pictures of her too. He was about to go after her when Ryan caught him.

"Let's go man," said Ryan, pushing him towards the door. Rihanna watched him curiously from the bedrooms as she made the beds. She was now 100% sure that Sawyer was in love with Renée.