20
Tom loaded the last of the broken gum branches on the back of the Ute as the rain welled on the brim of his Akubra and dripped down in front of his face. The strong winds had torn down part of an old tree along one of the eastern fence lines. He would have loved to pull out the damn tree, but it did offer shade to the cattle, and getting a permit to fell this variety of native eucalyptus wasn't worth the effort. Stupid environmental red tape.
He jumped into the Ute and drove carefully back toward the house, trying to avoid the soft spots in the track. There was no end in sight to the rain, and tomorrow he would have to move the cows to higher ground. He was hoping his last cows would have calved by then.
He pulled up to the paddock closest to the house to check on the last three preg
