Belonging to the Iceman

Mateship

The heat wave hit them like a tsunami, from being in the snow and the beautiful weather in Paris even though it was back to the sweltering heat in the Outback, the heat still hit them.

Steve came up to them, a grave expression on his face as they walked over to their quarters.

"What's wrong?" Kimi asked, sensing it immediately, something wasn't right. "We found half the mob, dead Icey," Steve trembled. "About a day after you left....half of what we worked so hard for, is now dead"

The other Stockmen were soon coming to greet their Head Stockman.

"Where's Mitch?" Kimi asked, noticing the young cocky Stockman was not among the men.

"There was a rouge bull Icey, while we were out trying to weigh up the damage of the dead stock and Mitch went up against him despite our warnings..." Steve said clearly upset.

"And what happened Steve? Mate, talk to me!" Kimi demanded, his heart hammering in his chest.

"The tough young fellah got gorged to death, he wanted you there Icey, and he wanted to know that you were proud of him...that's all he cared about Icey," Steve said crying.

All the Stockmen had removed their Akubra's as a sign of respect for Mitch.

"no..." Kimi whispered, the tears welling up in his eyes, beside him Shantelle, was also crying.

Mitch could annoy them at the best of times, but he had a heart of gold and was a valuable member of the team.

"He wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread here on the Station, and Mr Walker has given his blessing and his permission, however, he was a Tassie boy and his family want to have his funeral service in Ross where he was brought up, the service is next week Icey," Steve said.

*

Shantelle found him talking quietly to Oddie and Senna, she could see his hurt and tears and they hurt her even more, with Nicolas not signing the divorce papers, losing half the Cattle and finding out the devastating news of Mitch's tragic death it was all starting to crumble around them.

"Why does life suck Shantelle?" he asked quietly, noticing her presence.

He never called her by her Christian name, always Kulta.

She went to sit beside him on some bales of hay.

"Because life wasn't meant to be easy...My Kimi" She said, kissing his cheek softly.

He just snorted, not bothering to reply.

"I love you Kimi Räikkönen," She said firmly.

"I love you too Shantelle Prost," He said back, kissing her.

That night her phone received a text message, Kimi was fast asleep.

Since the Station had upgraded its satellite and coverage there had been better service for phones and computers.

"Hi Shantelle, it's Delphine...remember me?" Shantelle read to herself, then she typed her reply "Hi Delphine, of course, I do, what can I do for you?"

She waited for the reply and soon it came "Can I call you, please? I need to talk to you..."

"How did you get my number?" Shantelle typed, and pressed 'send'.

"I got it out of Nico's iPhone Shantelle, please, I REALLY need to talk to you, this is not a joke! This. Is. Me!" Soon came the reply.

Shantelle sighed and got up off the lounge and headed out onto the front verandah so she wouldn't wake her Kimi, that's the last thing she wanted.

"Go ahead Delphine...call" She typed.

The vibrating of her phone was quicker than she expected.

"Hello Delphine," She said politely.

"Hello Shantelle, thank you for allowing me to call," Delphine said, nursing baby Angeline as she shook her bottle, to mix the formula up.

Shantelle heard the baby "How's Angeline?" She asked

"She's good, just a bit grizzly at the moment as she's teething and hungry," Delphine said, gently rocking her, as she walked around "but Angeline is not what I am calling for..."

"I know, I was just trying to make conversation," Shantelle said "I have a pretty fair idea what you need to talk about..."

"I don't doubt that!" Delphine said, sitting down and gently feeding the baby her bottle.

"Maybe I need to talk to you Delphine" Shantelle said.

"Me?"

"Yes, you see...Nicolas will not sign the divorce papers, therefore I cannot marry Kimi..."

Delphine listened, taking it all in "Well I very badly want him to sign them as well, Shantelle...I want my husband back."

"Delphine, can you help me get Nicolas to sign those papers?" Shantelle asked.

Delphine smiled and said "Send them over I will see what I can do! Oh...and make sure you sign them first!"

Shantelle smiled "thank you, Delphine."

Delphine smiled back and said "I would do anything to get him to sign those papers Shantelle... I miss my Nicolas...I want my Nicolas back!"

"And I would be happy to let you have him; I just want to get on with my life with Kimi, Delphine..." Shantelle said

"You can trust me Shantelle; I hope that we end up as good friends!" Delphine said.

"I hope I can Delphine, I hope I can!" Shantelle said.

"Poor Mitch! And those poor cows!" Elysia said, upset.

"And could you trust Delphine, Isoäiti?" Lucas asked.

"Well, you have to wait till I tell the next part of the story won't you grandson?" Shantelle asked

"Mitch's funeral was beautiful and when we brought him back to the Station..." Kimi couldn't finish, and Shantelle rubbed his shoulder.

There was a framed photo on Kimi's beside table of him and Mitch from one of their many musters grinning for the camera atop their horses.

It was one of the Iceman's most prized possessions.

"God! I still miss that little smartarse!" He remembered, the tears streaming down his cheeks.