Thank you to everyone reading, especially those leaving feedback. I know this is very different to my normal stuff, and certainly different from amything else on the board and i appreciate your support! 
behrluv32
guelbebek
BehrObsession
begonia9508
Jason's Lover
Mariael311
Ellie
Seven
“Why are you all dressed up?” Isabel asked Michael as she watched him trying to tame his wild hair in the bathroom mirror. He was wearing a clean pair of jeans and long sleeve shirt that was normally reserved for dates. He was also going to a lot of trouble to do something with his appearance, which was uncharacteristic for Michael.
Michael shrugged as he looked at Isabel through the mirror. “No reason.”
“What are you doing tonight?” she asked.
“Going into the pub,” he replied.
“You?” he asked.
“Oh, I’ll probably have tea with mum,” she answered. The truth was that as soon as Michael left she was heading over to spend the night with Alex. She had missed him so much over the past few weeks.
“Ok, well I’ll see you later,” Michael smiled.
***
Dianne looked up as Max limped into the living room.
“Hey sweetie,” she greeted him.
Max smiled. “Hey Mum. I won’t be home for tea tonight I’m going to the pub with Liz,” he told her.
Dianne smiled at her son, it had been a long time since she had seen him so happy as he looked tonight and she couldn’t help but think that it had something to do with Liz.
“Oh that’s great honey, have fun,” she smiled at him.
Max nodded and moved forward to kiss her just as Michael and Isabel walked into the room then.
“Are you going out too?” Isabel asked when she saw that Max was also dressed up. He was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt, which showed off his toned torso. It was also a contrast to Michael who had on plain blue jeans, cowboy boots, and a blue button down shirt.
“Why, are you going out too?” Max asked Isabel completely ignoring Michael. Over the past week it had become obvious to Max that Michael wanted nothing to do with him. He went out of his way to ignore him and Dianne even going as far as not showing up for meals and frankly Max was sick of it. If that was the way that Michael wanted things to be then Max had no problem doing the same thing.
“Um no,” Isabel replied.
“Yeah I’m going out,” Max smiled at his twin sister.
Isabel frowned. “Where?” she wondered.
“The pub,” Max told her.
Michael frowned when he heard Max’s answer. He wondered who Max knew in Gungahlin that he would be going to the pub with.
Car lights shone through the windows then as Liz and Maria pulled one of the Parkers Ute’s into the driveway at Killarny.
“That will be the girls,” Michael said. “I’ll see you later Iz,” he said.
A few seconds later Liz’s voice drifted through the screen door. “Hello?”
Michael smiled as he walked towards her. “Hey,” he greeted.
“Hi,” Liz replied.
“I’m ready so lets get out of here,” Michael declared waiting for her to walk back out the way she had come. He couldn’t wait to get away from Dianne and Max, he wished they would just head back to the city again.
Max frowned as he watched Michael talk to Liz.
Liz didn’t move though her eyes were locked guiltily with Max.
“What are you waiting for Liz?” Michael asked.
“Max is coming with us,” she said her eyes still locked with Max’s.
“I think I’ll pass Liz,” Max said.
“No don’t,” Liz stepped forward ignoring Michael’s glare. “Come, please?” She pleaded.
Max looked up and met Michael’s angry glare. It was obvious that his brother had a thing for Liz and it was just as obvious that either Liz didn’t realise this or she didn’t feel the same. But one look into Liz’s hopeful eyes there was no way he could say no to her and he realised he didn’t want too.
“Ok,” he nodded.
Liz rewarded him with a huge grin.
“Whatever,” Michael snapped. “Lets get going already,” he said as he stalked angrily out of the house towards the waiting car.
Maria hopped out of the passenger side of the car as Michael approached. Liz had leant her hipster jeans and a new top, which showed off her ample cleavage. She hoped that maybe a change in appearance might cause Michael to notice her.
“Hey,” She smiled.
“Hey,” Michael said as he opened the back door and hopped in. Maria decided it would best then if she sat in the back with him leaving the passenger seat to Max.
“Looks like you get the front with me,” Liz said as her and Max walked towards the car.
Max remained silent and Liz sighed. “You’re angry with me for not telling you Michael was coming aren’t you?” she asked.
“I just don’t understand why you would do that, you know he can’t stand me,” Max replied. He wasn’t angry he was a little annoyed, he had thought he was going to be spending the night with Liz and it turns out would have to deal with Michael and Maria as well.
Liz looked over at him and instantly felt bad. She hadn’t really thought about anyone’s feelings but her own when she had invited Max. “I’m sorry I just wanted to spend some time with you,” she admitted embarrassed.
Despite himself Max smiled at her admission. “Well you just have to ask,” he said quietly.
“Ok,” Liz smiled.
She was surprised when Max followed her around to the driver’s side and opened her door for her before rushing back around to his own.
“Hi Max,” Maria said cheerfully from the back.
“Hey Maria,” Max replied.
Liz could feel the tension in the car and she instantly regretted her decision. She had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
“Lets go,” she said.
***
The Pub was fairly busy which was unusual for a Friday night. Gungahlin was a small town and there wasn’t really anything else to do for most of the men that worked on of the farms in the area.
Luckily for them though the pool table was open and Michael wasted no time claiming it.
“Ok so it will be me and Liz versus Max and Maria,” Michael declared.
Maria looked at Max and eyes him sceptically. “Can you play?” she asked.
Max shrugged. “I’m ok,” he lied.
Maria shook her head then and turned back to Michael. “No that’s unfair. You and Liz are the best players so you should be on separate teams,” she pointed out.
Liz nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll play with Max and you can play with Michael, Maria,” Liz agreed.
Liz could tell that Michael was going to object. “We’ll switch around for the next game,” she said silencing him.
They flipped a coin to see who would break and Michael and Maria won. Michael set the balls up and with a powerful stroke broke, sinking two balls.
“We’re colours Maria,” he informed her.
He missed his next shot and Liz shared a look with Max to see if he wanted to go first.
“You go,” he smiled. He watched as she leant over the pool table giving him a wonderful view of her firm toned ass, he also noticed he wasn’t the only person in the pub checking her out.
Liz sunk three of their half coloured balls before missing a shot.
“Ok Maria,” Michael stood up. “Try and sink that yellow one,” he told her pointing to one that was sitting in the pocket already.
“Ok,” Maria nodded.
Both Liz and Michael knew that Maria was a dreadful player but with Michaels skilful coaching Maria was able to hit the yellow ball putting it into the corner pocket.
“Yes I got it!” She squealed jumping up and down a few times before lunging into Michael’s arms. He was surprised at first but quickly recovered to catch her and hug her back awkwardly. She looked nice tonight he noticed for the first time. He wondered when his little Maria had grown up.
Maria’s next shot wasn’t as lucky and soon Max was lining up to take his shot.
His first shot he sunk an easy corner. Liz watched anxiously, she knew he said he could play but she hadn’t expected him to be very good. His next shot he bounced the white ball off the side of the table to sink two of balls into separate corner pockets. Liz’s mouth fell open in shock. “Wow,” she said.
Max looked up and winked at her with a smile. A few shots later the only ball left on the table for Max and Liz was the black and Max sunk it easily giving them the game.
“Looser’s buy drinks don’t they?” Max smirked at Michael and Maria.
Michael glared at his brother. “What do you want?” he asked.
“Beer,” Max nodded. “Liz?” he asked.
“Yeah a beer sounds good,” she grinned at Max.
“Way to go Max,” Maria congratulated him as she followed Michael to the bar to help with drinks.
“You’re good,” Liz smiled at him.
“Yeah I play a bit,” he replied with a shrug.
“Yeah it looks like it.”
“You’re not too bad yourself,” he told her.
“I try,” she shrugged.
“Thanks for inviting me, I’m glad I came,” Max said then.
Liz smiled shyly at him then. They were standing close together and to an onlooker they looked like potential lovers.
“I’m glad you came too,” she replied.
They stood staring at each other for a few seconds then until Michael loudly slapped their beers onto the nearby table.
“Lets play again,” Michael declared.
Liz regretfully looked away from Max then and towards Michael.
“How about me and Maria versus you guys this time?” she suggested.
Max and Michael shared a look before Michael grunted. “What ever.”
By the end of the night it was obvious that Max and Liz were by far the best pool players whilst Maria was the worst.
Maria was slightly drunk by the time they called it a night and Michael had to help her walk to the car while Max and Liz trailed slowly behind them. Liz could tell that Max was tired because his limp had got progressively worse through the night but she didn’t ask him if he was ok. She sensed it was something he wasn’t ready to talk about.
“She’s a firecracker isn’t she,” Max laughed as he watched Michael trying to handle Maria who refused to shut up.
“Yeah,” Liz agreed.
“I had fun tonight,” she blurted out then.
“Me too,” Max agreed.
“Maybe we could…” Liz trailed off nervously. She had never asked a guy out before and was surprised she was doing so now.
“Yeah I’d like that,” Max quickly said.
Liz smiled then. “Good.”
“Yeah,” Max grinned back.
Eight
Max pulled up in the driveway and got out to take a look around. Unlike Killarny, Parkers had definitely gone through a lot of changes in all the years he had been gone. The homestead had been extended and the gardens had grown to give more privacy. Max thought it was truly beautiful and wasn’t surprised that Liz and Alex loved this place.
“Hey you made it,” Liz smiled as she spotted him.
Max looked up at her and smiled. Once he was on the road it was easy to remember how to get to Parkers. What he was doing here he wasn’t quite sure.
“Yep,” he smiled.
He couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she looked once again. Her hair was neatly braided in two braids and her jeans fit her petite body very nicely.
“Well we should go,” Liz declared walking off the porch towards him.
“Where exactly is it that we’re going?” Max asked curiously.
Liz had called him earlier that morning and asked him if he would go somewhere with her that afternoon. Of course he had agreed eager to spend as much time with her as possible before he left. It was still going to take a few weeks to sort out his father’s estate and Max and Dianne had decided to stay on during that time.
Liz grinned at Max’s curious expression. He was wearing a football cap today and Liz thought he looked cute.
“Just follow me,” she told him and waited for him to fall into step beside her as she headed towards the sheds.
Max looked around the enormous shed as they entered and admired all the up to date equipment stored in there.
“Parkers must be doing well,” he said.
Liz smiled and nodded. “Yeah, the last few years have been pretty good. We’ve got some prime cattle in which is getting us a higher market price,” she told him.
“That’s good. It might be more up front costs but you’re proof that it pays off in the end,” he said. He had been studying the books at Killarny for the past few days and he had noticed that his father’s profit margin had been dropping every year. Even with Michael and Isabel taking a small pay cheque they were barely staying above water.
“Exactly. The first year was tough but every year it’s just got better and now with Wilgul we’re able to run with thousands more cattle.”
They stopped walking when they reached a blue and white trail bike parked near a smaller red and white one.
“Can you ride?” Liz asked.
Max looked at the bikes and then Liz. “Why?”
“We purchased these bikes to go between Drovers and Wilgul,” Liz explained. “It cuts down your travel time by taking the long way around and these things are great on the land.”
“Who’s is this?” Max asked pointing at the larger bike.
“Alex’s and this one is mine,” she replied and pointed at the red and white one.
“Cool.” Max smiled. The idea of Liz riding was kind of sexy.
“So you want to go for a ride?” she asked hopeful. This was the only way she could think of to get Max out in the land. She wanted him to remember his roots, where he came from, and what he loved about it.
“I can’t ride,” he said regretfully.
“Oh,” Liz frowned and contemplated her options. “Well I guess you’ll just have to ride behind me,” she smiled then. “And one day I’ll teach you,” she said proudly.
“You sure?” Max asked.
“Yep.” She grinned and pulled her bike out from the wall and kicked it over. She sat on the bike and waited for Max who was just staring at her unsure.
“What are you waiting for?” she yelled over the roar of the engine. “Hop on.”
Finally Max stepped forward and kicked his bad leg over so he could straddle it.
“Don’t we need helmets or something?” He asked, his mouth pressed closely against Liz’s ear.
Liz shivered slightly. “Nah we’ll be ok. Just hang on tight ok?” She yelled back.
Max nodded and shifted forward on the seat until he was pressed against Liz’s back. His large hands slipped easily around her tiny waist and once Liz was sure he was on she pushed off and rode slowly out of the shed.
***
Jeff and Nancy Parker were sitting on the porch and looked at each other curiously when they saw Liz’s bike zip across a paddock with Liz and someone on the back.
“Is that Max?” she asked.
“It looked a bit like him,” Jeff nodded.
“Kids are funny,” she sighed. “It doesn’t seem to matter that it’s been sixteen years since they’ve seen each other. Those two have easily slipped back into their old ways.”
As children Liz and Max has always been exceptionally close. Max was always protective of Liz and most of the time would prefer to stay and play with her then to take of with Alex and Michael to be a boy.
“We should have them over for tea,” Jeff commented then.
Nancy looked at him curiously. “The whole Evans clan. It’s been ages since we had a barbeque.”
“Ok,” Nancy nodded.
“Great. I’ll organise it for the weekend,” he nodded.
***
Max smiled as Liz raced the bike across the paddocks. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so free. The further away from the homestead they got the more beautiful everything became and even though it had been sixteen years he still remembered a few of the places they were passing.
Eventually Liz pulled up near the creek and turned the bike off.
Max slid off the bike first and looked around with a grin.
“So what do you think?” Liz asked.
“That was awesome,” He grinned.
“Yeah it is,” she agreed.
“Not as good as a horse but still good,” he added quietly.
“Yeah, I don’t think anything beats racing through the paddocks on the back of a horse but this is definitely a close second.” Liz acknowledged getting off the bike and moving to stand next to Max who was watching the creek.
They walked slowly towards the edge of the creek and soon they were sitting on the edge their shoes off and their jeans rolled up as they dipped their feet in the cool area.
“So Liz tell about me something about you,” Max eventually broke the silence and asked. The whole time he had been there everything had been about him.
“What do you want to know?” Liz asked.
“Everything,” he smiled.
Liz blushed. “Well my life really isn’t that exciting but lets see….” She thought about what to tell him and soon she was talking his ear off about growing up on Parkers through the drought and the hard times. How she had refused to be sent of to boarding school in Adelaide and instead travelled on the bus to school every day in Gungahlin.
“So why didn’t you leave to go to college?” he asked curiously.
“I would have missed this place too much,” she shrugged. “I’m a simple country girl Max and the city has never really appealed to me.”
“Yeah I can see that,” he smiled. He knew she would fit in the city without a problem but he knew her heart belonged on the land. You could take the girl out of the country but you would never take the country out of the girl.
“You must like the city to have stayed for so long,” she commented then.
“It’s ok,” he said. “Mum has a coffee shop and I used to work there after school when I could,” he replied.
“Why did you stay away so long?” she asked then.
Max looked down at the water where he was kicking his good foot.
“It wasn’t to punish him,” he whispered. “It was never to punish him.”
Liz could hear the sob that had gathered in his throat and she knew that this was a long time coming.
“He knew that,” Liz replied. How many times had she heard Phillip talk about something Max had done that he was extremely proud of? He was always talking about how well he did in school.
“I loved him so much Liz but I hurt him so much too,” he cried.
It was his fault his parent’s marriage hadn’t lasted. He had taken so much of his mother’s time and attention that eventually she had nothing left for Phillip.
Liz moved closer and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “He knew that,” she soothed him. “He understood,” she added knowing deep down that Phillip did.
“I was so selfish. I didn’t care about anyone else but myself,” he said. “It was my fault mum never came home. I had to have all that rehab and then when the Doctors said I could stop I didn’t want to come home.”
“Was that because you couldn’t walk properly?”
Max nodded. “What use was I when I couldn’t do anything?” he asked.
“Hey,” Liz chided him. “Just because you can’t ride doesn’t mean you can’t do anything,” she said.
Max snorted, “I can’t help with the cattle or anything.”
“Ok, maybe that was true back then but now you could get a bike, Alex uses it all the time to round the cattle up and there is plenty of other things that you could do. I saw you with all that paperwork the other day and you were very good,” she pointed out.
Max looked up at her surprised. Liz always knew what to say to make him feel good about himself and he wondered if she did that to everyone or just to him. Unable to stop herself Liz reached out and wiped the tears gently away from his eyes.
Their eyes locked and soon they were both slowly leaning in. The first touch of their lips was gentle but explosive and Liz sighed in pleasure. Max pulled back and looked at her reaction before he leaned in and kissed her harder. Liz responded immediately shifting so that she could get closer to him. Max’s hand drifted to the back off her head and he wished that her hair was loose so he could run his hands through it.
“Wow,” Liz whispered when the kiss eventually ended. Liz had kissed a few boys in her life but she had never been kissed the way she had just been by Max.
“Yeah,” he replied with a small smile.
Max looked around their surroundings then before turning back to Liz. “We probably should head back before it gets dark,” he said.
“Yeah,” Liz agreed regretfully.
They headed for the bike and when they got there Liz stopped. “Did you want to give it a go?” she asked.
Max looked at her surprised. “Are you sure?” he asked. After watching Liz ride he had a fair idea of what to do and thought he would be ok. It seemed it was about balance and he was okay with that.
“Positive,” she grinned. Liz loved the idea of sitting behind Max, her arms wrapped around him as she was pressed against his back.
“Ok,” he grinned back. He hopped on the bike and Liz told him to go for a spin by himself before she attempted to jump on.
Liz watched as he shakily drove in circles around the paddock but he managed to do it without any problems and Liz was cheering for him as he finally pulled the bike up next to her.
“Ok hop on,” He grinned proudly.
Liz slid on easily and smiled as she wrapped her arms around Max’s strong chest.
“You ok?” Max asked enjoying the feel of her pressed up against him.
“Uh huh,” she replied.
Hesitantly and slowly at first Max pushed off and began the ride back to Parkers. As the journey continued he grew more confident and soon they were flying across the paddocks just like they had been a few hours earlier.
Once back at Parkers Max rode the bike back into the shed into the position it was in earlier.
“That was awesome,” Max grinned as he turned off the bike.
“You’re a natural,” Liz replied as she slid of the bike.
“Well I had a good teacher,” Max flirted his arm reaching out to rest on Liz’s hip.
Liz blushed and stepped forward preparing to lean in and share another kiss with Max. They’re lips had barely touched when someone made their presence known by clearing their throat.
Liz jumped back from Max startled and looked up to find the amused eyes of her older brother.
“Alex!” she yelped.
“Liz,” he said. “Max.”
Max cleared his throat. “Hi Alex.”
“What’s up?” Liz asked her brother now avoiding his gaze.
“Mum sent me out to ask if Max wanted to stay for dinner,” Alex replied.
Liz and Max shared a look before Max nodded. “Yeah that would be great,” he replied. “I’ll just have to call and let mum and Isabel know.”
“Actually Isabel is here too,” Alex told them.
“Great,” Liz smiled. “We’ll just finish up in here and come in,” Liz told him giving him the hint that it was time for him to leave.
“Ok,” Alex grinned. He couldn’t wait to tell Isabel what he had just walked in on. He knew that Isabel wanted Max to stay on at Killarny and maybe Liz was a reason he would.
I totally forgot to update this the other night. I'm so sorry. Thank you to everyone who is reading, i really appreciate your feedback.