Chapter 4
Moira smiled to herself as she surveyed the scene of the engagement party. She had not been invited but no one seemed to notice, or perhaps they hadn't the manners to say anything. She had not been expecting an invite. After all the whole town probably knew how she felt about Dave. She didn't care. True love would conquer all. She had a vision. Of her life with Dave. So perfect. It would happen, of that she had no doubt. But she would not give up and trust fate completly. She would give a helping hand. She smiled as she recalled earlier in the evening poisoning Tess McLeods beloved pets, and planting the bottle of poison in Dave's Jacket. She felt bad about framing him, after all she loved him, but it was for a greater good. She would come between them. She was not foolish enough to believe it would happen all at once because of one incident. He would talk himself out of it and Tess would believe him, how could any woman say no? But bit by bit she would undermine the trust Tess had in him. She wished Tess no ill, she hoped Tess would find her future with Nick. She had tried so hard to steer Tess along. She cursed herself as she remembered Tess coming to her, asking her advice, about her futuer, about marriage. Moira had thought Tess was comtemplating marriage with Nick, and of course was all for it. Told the woman she saw a vision of them happily married, soul mates, with a beautiful family. That would leve Dave free. And rejected, and looking for comfort in the arms of an older woman. It would all work so well. She cursed herself when she realised days later that Tess had meant Dave. Just when she thought Tess was out of the picture for good. Moira knew Tess was the only thing standing between her and her man, and she would not stand for it. Tonight was the first of many things she had planned for Tess McLeod.
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Dave hesitated before opening his car door that crisp cool morning. He did not feel right leaving Drovers like this. He had only been trying to do what was right. But somehow the night had ended in an argument with Tess and he realised that there was no sense sticking around now to try and talk sense into her.
Sadly the Alpaca had died during the night. Dave had tried to break the news gently, but Tess was devastated. Even more so when she discovered that Dave'd known it had been sick, that he had not told her, and that the poor animal had died all alone outside in the cold. Dave did not bother to reassure her that Stevie had sat with the animal and that it was not alone in its hour of suffering. He decided a moment too late that it would have been better to keep silent all together.
He hated leaving after an argument. But he saw no point in sticking around. As he was about to climb inside his car he heard Stevie calling his name. He watched as she ran towards him, happy to see someone who was not angry at him. It was not his fault the animal had been sick after all. Why couldn't Tess see that?
Dave looked at her, enjoying that moment of suspense before she spoke, wondering what she would say, having no idea, and waiting eagerly to hear whatever came from her lips.
"You forgot your jacket." She said handing it to him.
He stood still for a moment, disappointed secretly that she had come running after him just for that.
"Oh, yes, thanks." He mumbled, looking away as he quickly took the jacket. He had to get away from her before he made a fool of himself and did something he might regret.
In his haste something fell from the pocket of the jacket and he and Stevie stood looking down at the item, a bottle of poison.
"Dave?" she said, her brown eyes large with surprise as she looked at him questioningly. "What is this?"