Chapter 1
Dave looked around the room at his friends who had gathered to throw him a surprise engagement party. He and Tess had been completly shocked by the gesture. Tess was delighted and smiled up at him sweetly. Dave realised that all his wishes had come true. Tess had chosen him over Nick. He had started to think he had no chance. He had been preparing himself for the heartbreak. He had decided he would leave town. He would not stay around and watch Tess start a life with Nick Ryan. And somehow by some miracle, Tess had chosen him. And he expected that he would be over the moon. And he was happy. But something was not quite right. Something deep down was bothering him and he could not put his finger on what it was.
It had been a week of surprises. First Tess accepting his proposal. Now this engagement party. And then there had been the strange thing that happened between him and Stevie Hall last night. And the even stranger thing was he could not stop thinking about it, could not stop thinking about her. And it made no sense to him.
As if she had been reading his thoughts, Stevie approached him at that moment.
"We need to talk. Now." She had said.
Stevie grabbed Dave by the arm before he could protest, and she hastily looked over her shoulder making sure that no one was following them. He stumbled behind her, confused. He felt his heart racing faster and faster until he had to stop and catch his breath. She turned to look at him, concerned by the look of terror on his face.
"Stevie, I really don't think we should...." He began
"Shut up." She told him quickly, "Do you want Tess to hear you?" She asked before turning and walking away into the night.
Why shouldn't Tess hear us? He wanted to ask. Where are we going?
But not certain he was ready for the answer, he kept silent.
She had let go of his arm, and assumed he would follow her without question. Which he did. But somehow he felt cold and empty now that she was not touching him. It alarmed him that he was thinking this way about another woman, he had just become engaged to the woman of his dreams. What was going on? But he could not help the thoughts and feelings that swept over him. He tried to tell himself that it was his mind playing tricks on him. That he was just frightened about marriage, a life time commitment, and these thoughts about Stevie were nothing to be worried about. He tried to push them aside. But how could he do that considering the things that happened earlier that week? How could he do that when she would seek him out at his very own engagement party and lead him out into the night?
He followed behind her, watching as her red hair glowed in the soft moonlight, the curls bouncing as she walked quickly away from the house. He could not help but look over his shoulder, feeling guilty even though he had not done anything wrong, and did not intend to. He would let her down gently. He would just explain that he thought she was a very nice girl, but that he was spoken for and he was sure things would work out for her someday too. And he wouldnt tell anyone about it. It would be their secret.
He almost crashed into her where she stood outside the near paddock. She looked up at him slightly annoyed and he steadied her with his hands. He looked down into her eyes, unable to speak, unable to find any words to describe how perfect this moment felt. How perfect she felt to his hands, how perfect it seemed to stand so close in the moonlight, how much he wanted to pull her closer. She looked back to him confused and finally pulled away.
"You mustn't tell Tess." Stevie said to him.
"No of course not." He stammered.
"I think he's dead." Stevie said.