Mara Mackenzie sat in the back of the rented limo pulling on the bottom of her dress. With barely a week to plan she could hardly have anything custom made and her off the rack cocktail length bridal gown could have fit a little better, at least by her reckoning. It was only going to be a small affair with no groomsman, no people filling the chapel with the exception of Hector, Jack and their host of course At least that's what Mara expected but as the limo turned onto the property and headed down the dirt road toward the little church, the vehicles began to appear.

"What the fuck?" she uttered to herself.

"Beg pardon ma'am?" The driver glanced up at the rear view mirror to look at her and their eyes met.

"Who are all of these people?" she asked as she bent to look out the window.

The driver simply smiled. Apparently Mara was the only one in the area who was not let in on the secret. He pulled up in front of the chapel and hopped out to open her door. As she stepped out someone else took her arm.

"G'day, love."

"G'day, Rusty. What the hell did you do?"

"Any excuse for a bash. I didn't reckon you'd want to be drinking with the flies on your wedding day so I invited the entire town. Figured you wouldn't mind if I gave you away. Hector is best man and Jenny Owen is hoping you'll ask her to be your maid of honor." He nudged his chin toward Mara's old mate from school. Mara let him go to give her old friend a hug.

"Jenny! How the hell are you? When did you get back in town?"

"Just yesterday, mate. I heard you was getting married and how could I let you do it without me? Your man here took care of everything."

"Russ, I don't know what to say."

"Next thing you should say, love, is I do. You're groom is waiting for you. Ready?"

"Oh yeah. I'm ready."

"Well that sorry bastard of a bloke is waiting for you at the alter. Let's get the show on the road."

Mara took the bouquet Jenny held with a smile. As Russ opened the door of the chapel everyone inside got silent and turned toward the door. Mara and Jenny stepped in and the sound of a stringed orchestra playing the traditional wedding march. Her eyes scanned over the town’s folk as they gazed at her and she felt a twinge of nerves until she saw Max waiting for her at the end of the aisle.

The entire ceremony seemed surreal to her. She could barely hear the words for the way Max mesmerized her and she knew heart and soul that she was in love with this man the moment he said "I do." He kissed her as ordered and the deal was complete.

"I never thought I'd hear the words Mrs. Skinner." He admitted before kissing her a second time. "I love the sound of it."

"It sounds right by me too. Mara Skinner. I can get used to it."

She'd have to because its how Rusty introduced the newlyweds at the wonderful outdoor reception he'd had set up. It went something like "...may I present to you for the first time in public, Mister and Missus Maxamillian Skinner." Bloody hell it was official and there were more people there to acknowledge it than she thought existed in the Glen.

Is it going to change anything but her name? Time would tell but for now they were happy, taking a break from the stress of rebuilding and restarting the business.

Mara milled about, greeting and talking with people she knew and meeting those she didn't. She caught a glimpse of Max, Rusty, Hector and Jack standing off together and they all seemed to be looking at her. Wonders what the hell they were up to but they kept their convo between them.

"Hope your wedding tackle is in order, mate." Rusty teased as he sipped in a VB

"I never had a problem in that department. As you Aussies would say, no worries."

Hector chuckled and pushed his hat back. "Best you lay off the drinks, Max. One too many and we'll be carrying you to your honeymoon nest."

"Please. I've proven that I can handle my Scotch well, without destroying my libido."

"You're a god among men." The four of them laughed at Rusty's sarcasm.

Now boys being boys, they took Max's cockiness as being a sort of challenge so just for the fun of it they made sure his glass was bottomless. The three men proceeded to pour copious amounts of booze down Max Skinners throat and it may have spelled the demise of the honeymoon night.

Dinner was a snap. He was fine and full of smiles when he danced with his bride for the first time. He was still standing when it came time for him to scoop up his bride and carry her off to their hotel for the night but once he got into the back of the limo everything came to a full tilt halt.

"Max?"

"Huh?"

"You think you might want to kiss me or something?"

"Uh huh."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"You're bloody pissed aren't you?"

"Uh huh."

Whatever she blithered on about after that ran together to form one long hammering sentence but he could tell by the look on her face that she was pissed as well and it hand nothing to do with mass consumption of booze. As a matter of fact she clammed up tight after that and once they got to the hotel she simply helped him into bed, covered him up and blessed him with a kiss. "I still love you, you lush. Twice in as many weeks. Bloody fucking men!"

It wasn't like she was worried about having a traditional wedding night tryst. They'd be together for the rest of their lives and that was all that mattered right now. The wedding itself turned out to be zonks more overwhelming than she'd ever expected and it would be a day to remember, to tell their children about and maybe even someday they'd be able to bounce a grandchild or two on their knees as captives for their yarn about how the famous Hollywood actor made their day.

Was this it, the end of their story? Hardly. It was just the beginning of things for Max and Mara. A few days later they'd be back to work on the vineyard.

Late evening saw Mara Skinner standing on the front porch. The sun was melting into the western horizon and it gave the new vines a ghostly appearance. Maybe that's what they were, ghosts of the vines her father had planted and toiled over for decades. Red hues faded to purple then blue gray as the sun sizzled behind the rise. She loved the smells this time of day. The dissipating heat brought the rich composts perfume from the soil and easy breezes blew sugar scented fairies from the baby grapes. For as many times as her father spoke of the magic that happened at night in the rows of trellises, she'd never been able to grasp on to it until now. It had everything to do with being the one who worked the dirt. There was a sense of accomplishment at seeing a vine reach up an inch more than it had the day before and when the first little spheres appeared within the broad leaves it made Mara feel simpatico with her father. Too bad this didn't happen while he was alive.

"Tea?" She turned to see Max coming out the door with two mugs.

"Sure."

He moved up behind her and handed one of the mugs over. "I never said I was sorry about ...the other night. I got into it with the blokes and, you know the rest."

"No apology necessary. As long as you had a good time it's all okay."

"I did, and you?"

"Oh yes. I got to see an old friend I haven't seen for years. I got to be with people I've neglected to stay in touch with and I got a new last name. Max, the day was full of surprises. It all happened so quick that it seems like a dream to me."

"As long as it wasn't a nightmare."

"Please. I'm really happy." She held the mug in front of her and leaned back against him.

"I could make it up to you."

"As long as tea has on effect on your ability." she hummed teasingly.

He took the mug from her hands and set it alongside his on the railing. She every bit expected him to lead her upstairs to their room but he had something else in mind tonight. Taking her hand he walked her out onto the newly placed sod and around to the back of the house. There on a series of clothes lines hung the laundry from earlier in the day that she'd neglected to bring in. Past dusk now, two rows of white sheets and towels wafted in the mild zephyr and Max brought her between them. They were silhouettes to anyone watching from the house when he laid her down on the aromatic grass.

"You know the Romans would make love in their fields to insure fertility."

"We should do this often, Max. We'll be solvent in no time."

The mere mention of the word solvent was an aphrodisiac to Max Skinner. In their little nest they methodically caressed, undressing slowly until they were both part of nature. He worshiped her with gentle touches and kisses and she responding with like. Moving on top of her, he entered her easily culling a sweet inviting whimper.

"God I love you, Max."

He gave her such pleasure when he made love to her like this and the sound of her voice pulled him deep inside of her. Pulling back he pressed forward again sliding easily into her needy body. They rocked together with a slow groaning rhythm until the pressure inside of her began to grow. He brought her to the brink with a driving thrust and she answered by clenching him tight inside of her.

"Mara..." Max Skinner crooned his beautiful wife's name over and over again until his relenting body spilled inside of her. He held her tight as she shuddered beneath him and something felt special about that moment. Nature sure was beautiful in the garden of the Skinner home.

Hector found them wrapped in a clean sheet from the line early the next morning. They’d stayed in the garden all night for Christ’s sake. He smiled, shook his head and gave them their privacy. He had some fertilizing to do himself if they were to have a crop this year.

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