Dinner at Drovers was awkward and silent. Alex and Dave arrived together, and yet instantly the girls picked up that something was amiss. There was undeniable, unspoken tension in the air. They stood awkwardly looking down at Claire, Stevie, Jodi seated at the table. They looked to each other, then down to the ground.
"Here" Alex finally offered the six pack he had bought, breaking the ice.
"Thank you Alex." Claire replied. She was trying to sound polite, but it came across sounding insincere.
"I was sorry to hear…about your parents" Alex said to Stevie.
Are you? She wondered silently. Because I'm not.
Alex had so many questions, about Rex, and Stevie's parents. The curiosity was killing him. But he held his tongue, promising Claire he would not cause any problems, that he would try get on with Stevie.
Stevie looked over to him, for the first time in a long time he seemed sincere. "Thanks." She told him.
"What happened? A car accident?" Alex asked. He honestly hadn't meant to be insensitive. He wanted to know, and wanted to let Stevie know that he was sorry for her loss. That he wasn't here to cause trouble about the cattle theft.
"I'd rather not talk about it." Stevie answered.
The rest of the meal continued in silence. Stevie felt the curiosity from the others. Claire, so desperately seeking the truth about the cattle. And Alex, who was so quick to judge her guilty. She found it odd that Claire was so quick to jump to her defence, even when all the evidence pointed against her, and Alex was the opposite, quick to believe the worst, and yet he never even asked her what had happened.
The awkward dinner was interrupted by a knock at the door. Two police officers arrived.
"We just have a few questions for Miss Hall." The officer replied.
"She answered all your questions yesterday." Dave replied quickly, feeling protective of Stevie. She had already had bad news about her parents, she didn't need the police harassing her.
"I can speak for myself." Stevie shot him an angry look and instantly felt bad when she saw the hurt look in his eyes.
"This is about a different matter." The officer explained. "Perhaps we can go somewhere in private?" He suggested.
"No need for that. I have nothing to hide." Stevie said, trying to cover the fact her voice was shaking. There was so much to hide. But what did it matter? She had helped with that cattle theft. She had already confessed. Everyone knew, even Claire. Not the whole story of course. But they all knew she had been a part of it. She already confessed to the police, what more could they want from her?
"We would like to ask you come questions about some missing stock." The officer continued.
"I already made my statement about the cattle." Stevie answered.
"No, not the cattle from Drovers Run." The officer answered. " 500 Sheep. Taken from Killarney, last night."
"What?!" Stevie asked, genuinely surprised. She knew nothing of any sheep.
Alex shot Stevie a suspicious glance. He felt triumphant. She had been so foolish, already in trouble with the police and still stealing. And from Killarney! How stupid could she be?
"We don't know anything about it." Claire said firmly. "What would we want with a bunch of sheep from Killarney? Drovers has the best sheep in the district. The Ryans are family, Alex is my fiancé, why would we steal from Killarney?" It was ridiculous. But then Claire remained silent as she she realised Stevie stealing from Drovers was just as ridiculous.
"You're not under suspicion Miss McLeod, We came to speak with Miss Hall."
"This is harassment. You can't come round here everytime something goes missing. What kind of proof do yo have?" Dave asked
"We are just asking some questions, due to the incident with the cattle earlier in the week, it is reasonable that we would question Miss Hall about this recent theft."
Claire shifted nervously, looking over to her friend. She wanted to defend her, of course Stevie wouldn't steal from Alex, from Killarney. But she had already admitted to 'letting' someone steal the cattle from Drovers. Stevie offered no explanation, no reasons. Claire had to wonder if Stevie was somehow involved this time too. She tried to tell herself Stevie must have a reason. But Stevie wouldn't tell her anything. It was getting harder and harder to defend her, to believe in her, to try and help her. Stevie was on her own this time.
Stevie didn't appear nervous.. She stood confidently looking the officers straight in the eye "I don't know anything about it."
Alex looked to Claire, seeing how distressed she was, and then over to Stevie. He wasn't sure what to think. He was almost glad, maybe everyone would listen to him, realise Stevie was trouble, and send her packing. It was what he wanted. Her to be gone, things to go back to normal. But something didn't feel right. He hated seeing Claire so distressed. And the thought of seeing Stevie taken away in handcuffs and thrown in jail suddenly didn't make him as happy as he thought it would. It made him feel sick.
"Did you say Killarney, Officer?" Alex asked.
"Yes, 500 Sheep from Killarney went missing last night."
"Oh, I see what's happened. Sorry to waste your time officers. I moved the sheep, last night, forgot to let dad know." Alex lied. He had no idea what possessed him to do it. "Sorry, let me introduce myself, Alex Ryan, Harry's son."
"I don't need you to lie for me Alex." Stevie said angrily.
"Shut up Stevie." Alex yelled back. How ungrateful could she be? He was covering for her, lying to the police to protect her, and she was yelling at him.
"I don't need you to cover for me, I'm innocent, I have nothing to hide." It made her blood boil, seeing the look in his eyes, that condemning stare. He believed she was guilty. Yet how could she blame him, she had been involved in stealing Claire's cattle. But there were reasons. Did he really think she was a thief? Or that she was stupid enough to hang around here and keep stealing? And if so, then why would he lie to protect her?
"So Mr Ryan, you say you moved the sheep and forgot to let your father know? Where are the sheep now? I will have to confirm this with Harry Ryan, There has been an official report filed."
"Well…"Alex began, trying to stall for time. There was no way Harry would go along with any of this. He decided it best to stop talking.
"Making a false statement to the police is a serious offence." The officer warned him.
"Excuse me officer, did you say the sheep went missing last night?" Dave asked, coming up behind Stevie putting his arm around her shoulders protectively.
"Yes that's right." The officer confirmed.
"Stevie was with me last night, Stayed over at my place, she was with me all night. So I'm afraid she wont be any help to you. "
"Is this correct Miss Hall?" The officer asked.
Stevie turned around to look at Dave. He was as bad as Alex, lying for her. He thought she was guilty too. They all did. Well why not, she had been guilty, why wouldn't they suspect her of committing the same crime again? Dave grasped his hand firmly in her own, his eyes staring deep into her own seemed to be begging her "trust me".
She turned back to the police "Yes that's correct." She answered, fighting back her anger at Alex and Dave for lying for her. She could be in serious trouble with the police if they treid to nail another crime on her. She had Rose to think of. She had to go along with it. No one would believe she was innocent. And it wasn't a total lie. It was half true, she had been at Dave's. But not the whole night. It was the early hours of the morning when he found her on the roadside. It must look suspicious to Dave, she realised. He found her walking on the roadside. He hadn't asked any questions, she hadn't offered any information. He heard all the stories from the others about how she had confessed to the first cattle theft. And yet he was lying for her anyway. That softened her attitude towards him, and she let herself relax in his arms and turned back to the offier smiling sweetly.
"For the entire night?" The officer asked.
"Yes." Dave answered. "Would you like me to sign a statement?"
"Can you be certain Miss Hall did not leave your house at any time during the night?"
"Oh yes, I'm certain." Dave replied. "We were together." He answered, winking at the officer as he pulled Stevie closer to him. "All night long."
Jodi gasped in surprise. Stevie and Dave?! She hadn't seen that coming. Claire looked away embarrassed, and Alex shook his head in disapproval.
"Well, we best be going then." The officer said. There was silence in the room until the officers had left.
"Oh my God, You two ! I had no idea, How long have you been together?" Jodi squealed in delight.
"That's really not your business Jodi." Stevie snapped at her, as she pulled away from Dave's embrace.
"Jodi, take Charlotte upstairs." Claire ordered her.
"But.."
"Now, Jodi." Claire said firmly.
Reluctantly Jodi took the baby upstairs, muttering under her breath "I miss all the good stuff"
"What did you think you were doing?" Stevie demanded to know of Alex when they had heard the police car drive away.
"Me? Trying to get you off the hook. I was trying to keep you out of trouble, sorry I bothered."
"I don't need your help, I'm innocent, I don't need you to lie for me!"
"Innocent? You confessed to the police that you took cattle from Drovers, Stevie. Don't go getting all high and mighty expecting us to believe you're all innocent." Alex shouted.
Stevie realised he had a point. Why should they believe in her?
"Well why did you lie then? Let them lock me up and throw away the key if you think I took your precious bloody sheep!"
"Geesh, a bloke can't do anything right around here." He mumbled, looking to Claire for support.
"Lying to the police isn't the answer Alex." Claire told him.
"Wait a minute, why am I the criminal here? Thought you'd be grateful, was trying to get your friend out of trouble, trying to keep the peace like you told me. Dunno why I bother."
Alex would never understand woman. He was trying to do the right thing. Thought it would make Claire happy. Thought Stevie would be grateful. The smug look from Dave was the last straw. How had Dave managed to be the hero and make Alex look like an idiot? Dave and Stevie deserved each other, Alex decided as he stormed off and slammed the door behind him.
Claire followed after him. She hated things ending like this, every time they saw each other it ended in a fight. And he had been only trying to help, Stevie had been hard on him. Besides she felt awkward with Stevie and Dave, figuring they wanted some time alone.
Once they were alone, Stevie turned to face Dave "What do you think you were doing?"
"I just told them the truth, you were at my place last night."
"Not the whole night" She reminded him uncomfortably.
"They don't need to know that." Dave replied.
"You think I'm guilty too." She stated. She wasn't furious with him the way she was with Alex. She was disappointed. And hurt.
"No I don't." He told her. "I just don't want you to get in any trouble."
"I'm already in trouble. I already confessed to stealing cattle. What's another 500 sheep?"
"I know you're not guilty." Dave replied.
"You know I'm not guilty? How do you know that? I already confessed to stealing cattle from Drover Run. I am guilty. I'm a thief. How do you know I didn't steal those sheep too?"
"Did you?" He asked
"No." She answered.
"Well that's good enough for me."
"But the cattle…" She began.
He waited patiently for her to finish.
"I am guilty." She told him, not being able to explain it any more than that.
"I don't believe it."
"I just told you I did it."
"It's not that simple. I'm sure there is more to it."
"How can you be sure?" She asked looking into his eyes. How could he believe in her so much? She had only met him a few months ago. And yet he believed in her, where as Alex, her life long friend, had already convicted her in his mind. Maybe it was because Alex knew her better. Maybe Dave was just a love sick fool.
"I just am sure. I know it. I know you. Claire knows it. She wouldn't keep you around if she didn't have a good reason." Dave explained. "And if you want to tell me about it, I'll listen."
"Not now." She told him. "But, thanks."
"Ok." He replied. "Anytime."
Stevie laughed as she remembered the things she said to the police, that they had been together all night. "I can't believe you, did you see the look on Jodi's face? Now the others think that we…" She couldn't finish.
"Think that we what?" He asked
"That we're, you know.." She told him.
"Does that bother you?" He asked
"No." She answered. "That doesn't bother me at all."