Max poured the two little pills from the bottle into his hand. He eyed them for a moment wondering how such a tiny bit of chemicals mixed with silica could perform such magic how they kept Mara from suffering the fits that plagued her. Pharmacology was never an interest to him but there was a time that running a vineyard wasn't either. Isn't it amazing how changes could happen so fast? One minute there are hundreds of acres of succulent vines heavy with fruit and the next there are hundreds of acres suitable for nothing but farming earthworms.

The sun came out this morning as if nothing ever happened but the devastation remaining screamed louder than life. Water receded as fast as it came up but it took most everything outside of the house and barn with it including the spirits of the residents.

Mara appeared in the kitchen doorway still wearing the clothes she'd fallen asleep in. "You've cooked brekkie."

He raised his head and smiled at Mara. "Nothing special, eggs, toast. We need to go into town for groceries."

She padded up to him and kissed his cheek. Neither one of them looked as if they’d slept for days." Can we afford to at this point?"

"Can we afford not to?" He pulled a chair out for her to sit. "Here, love." Both pills were placed on the empty plate in front of her and he fetched a bottle of water from the refrigerator. "I wouldn't trust the well water right now. Not until we can have it tested. At least the power is on,  the aerator and pumps are working."

"One less thing for us to worry about." Mara hesitated a bit but she finally swallowed the pills, bloody things made her tired sometimes.

"We have another problem. I don't want you to get upset about this but .." He hesitated for a moment because of the glare she gave him.

"Spit it out. It can't get much worse than it is."

"Okay, love. We have no insurance, nothing."

Mara sat there dumbfounded. The color drained from her face and her right hand began to tremble. "I...I guess that means we can't rebuild. How did this happen? I always managed to keep that much of it up."

Max shook his head. "My fault. When the property transferred I didn't follow up on that bit." He chewed his lower lip and reached for her hand. "I've got some money stashed. There has to be a way."

"It'll take millions to rebuild the vineyard. Millions! We were underinsured to begin with but now..."

"Now we have a challenge. Mara, the bottom line is we have no choice. We have to pick sort this out. Jack and Hector have already gone down to the started working on the levee. There's no sense in us sitting around doing nothing. I'm going into town. I'd like you to stay here to start making a list of items that needs to be replaced first. Can you do it for me, love?"

She nodded her head, wondering where she'd begin. What didn't need replacing? Maybe if she thought hard enough she'd know the most valuable of all still remained, their lives.

"Eat. You won't be able to function if you don't." He took the water bottle from her hand and replaced it with a fork.

About an hour later, Max parked the truck just outside of Woolgoolga farm supply in Coffs. He was surprised by a pat on the back.

"Hey, mate. How'd you fare after the storm?"

He turned to see the man whose home provided space for his reunion with Mara months ago. "Not to well. I'm afraid we've got our work cut out for us. How'd you make out?"

"No worries. My place is on higher ground. You reckon you could use some help out there?"

"I'm not sure where to start. I'm here to pick up some parts for the tractor to see if we can salvage it but the vineyard is a total loss."

"Tough break, mate." The man took his hat off and brushed his hair back. "Why don't you join me for a drink, my shout. Maybe I could give you some ideas."

"..An offer I can't refuse."

"Come on then, we'll go to the pub on West High Street. You can call my Rusty by the way, Max."

With a nod, Max followed him down the street to the pub. "I haven't checked this town out much. We've been pretty busy with the books up to this point. I figure you know what happened."

"Yeah, I was sorry to hear about Mara's dad. He was a good man. I was in the states when it happened and all I could do was send condolences. Of course I didn't know about the sale until I got back. Glad you stepped up to help her out."

Max started to tell him the entire story as they entered the bar. They found a couple of spots at the bar, got two VB's and settled in.  He told him how he'd returned to New York and how he felt responsible for a lot of what happened to Mara.

"But you came back." Rusty raised his bottle. "Good onya."

"It took an epiphany to make me realize that I do love her. We're getting married, you know, but I don't think its going to happen as soon as we'd planned now."

"Married? You lucky bastard. Congratulations. Sounds like a good excuse for another round."

The talked for hours and by the time they wandered out of the pub together they were both pretty damn lit. Rusty had Max talking and singing as if he were born down under and for a short time he got a break from the stress.

 He managed to get his shitfaced self home before it was time for evening tucker, empty handed of course. His inebriated condition should have pissed Mara off but the blokes in Australia were ...blokes.

"Looks like our illustrious neighbor christened you."

"Don't reckon so and you smell like a brewery. I should give Mister Crowe a piece of my mind."

"Aw, Mara, he was thrilled to hear we were betro...bee-tro...getting married. Speaking of which, I don't think we should wait. I think we should go ahead and do it as soon as possible."

"Right, Max. Let's see if you feel the same way in the morning. To be honest, I think you're just after me for my money, all fifteen dollars and eighty three cents of it."

He wobbled up and wound his arms around her. "It's not your money on my mind at the moment."

"You're a dog, you know that? And you're probably too pissed to do anything about what I reckon is on your mind."

"You'll have to help me upstairs. My equilib, … bollocks,balance seems to be at loggerheads with my ..whatever the hell."

Turning so he could lean on her, she helped him up the stairs to their room. Perhaps his blood alcohol level was at the perfect level for love making. It was just enough to take the stress and worry out of his mind but not enough to hinder his performance. Mara had no complaints; she wore a smile latter that night that made both Jack and Hector suspicious that it was she who fell prey to the juniper juice.

*********************

A couple of days had passed and the land was drying up nicely. It was late morning and Max was cursing, swearing over the water logged tractor.  Mara was talking with Jack about replanting the rose bushes when it happened. A large lorry rumbled up the drive and every one of them stopped wondering what the hell was going to happen next. As it creaked and squeaked to a halt a the head of the road the driver jumped out and he was followed by another man, a more familiar one.

"What's he got up his sleeve?" Mara waved and smiled at him. He strode up in that oh so familiar swagger of his.

"G'day, love. Looks like you're cleaning up nicely." He looked over at Max and winked. 'I've brought something for you. Call it an early wedding present. Come with me."

Mara, Max and Jack followed him to the back of the lorry where he jumped up on the bumper to unlatch the door. As it swung open, Rusty dangled for a moment before dropping to the ground.

"What...what have you got there?" Mara stood wide eyed and agog.

"Posts, trellises, tape, staples, seedlings ready for pollination. Everything you need to get you going again. Timing is perfect to start planting." He grinned quite proud of himself. "Call it an early wedding pressie and speaking of weddings...I built a chapel for mine. My brother used it for his wedding and I'd be chuffed if you'd consider doing the same. After all we are sort of related eh?"

Max pressed his hand forward to the man. "Can't believe you've done this for us, mate."

"There's one hitch." Rusty added. "I'll be leaving for America in two weeks. Reckon it would be prudent for you to have the wedding before then. How's next Friday sound to you?  And Max, pay the bleeding insurance before you start planting. You're getting rusty in your old age, mate."

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