Belonging to the Iceman

Someone New on The Station

Shantelle listened to Delphine talking as they sat in the lounge room.

Angeline had gone down for a sleep on their bed in the bedroom.

"You know, I can't believe how much Nico has changed..." She said, holding her glass of barely drunk juice.

Shantelle listened very patiently, she didn't think Delphine could talk so much.

"Can I freshen up your drink, Delphine?" She offered.

The beautiful Frenchwoman looked down at the glass she was holding "no, no thanks Shantelle, it's fine, I've been talking so much I have hardly taken a sip!"

When she finally began to drink, Shantelle signed in relief.

Another two hours had passed and the heat had finally got to Delphine.

"Aren't you hot Shantelle?" She asked, trying to fan herself with her hand.

Shantelle smiled and handed her a glass of ice-cold water and an oriental fan she had bought from Japan when she first met Nicolas.

"Take these and head into the bedroom and have a lie-down Delphine," She said politely

"Would you do something for me Shantelle?" Delphine asked as she allowed the Australian to guide her towards the bedroom door.

"Yes Delphine of course I will, what is it that you want me to do?" Shantelle answered
"Call me Dedeline, not Delphine; I think we're going to be the best of friends!" Delphine said happily, and then suddenly she gasped in excitement "And you can be Angeline's Aunty Shantelle!"

Shantelle forced a smile and helped the heat-exhausted woman lie down on Kimi's side as little Angeline was already fast asleep on her side.

As she switched the fan on Delphine, slowly stopped fanning herself as she had finally fallen asleep.

Shantelle breathed a sigh of relief as she quietly closed the bedroom door.

The snort of the horses outside alerted her that the Stockmen were back.

"Ohh dear, Help me Lord" she breathed, for she knew that once Kimi had fed and watered Senna and Oddie he'd want his shower, and their bathroom was right next to their bedroom.

She waited on the verandah, a freshly poured rum and coke for him in her hand.

He soon came into view as he walked across to his quarters, his stockwhip in his hand.

He was covered in dust and sweat.

However, when he saw her his grin widened, and his beautiful ice-blue eyes twinkled in the setting sun, beneath his Akubra.

"Kulta!" He said happily as he came to stand with her "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you really are?"

She smiled as he took the rum from her and savoured his kiss.

His warm, moist lips parted hers gently, as he wrapped his free arm around her waist.

She was about to ask him how the Muster was when Angeline had woke and had begun to cry from in their bedroom.

Kimi's face burrowed into a frown.

"Is that what I think it is?" He asked "Shantelle, WHERE did you get a baby? We are thousands of kilometres in the middle of the Australian Outback! It is a four-hour flight by plane to Darwin, I only left this morning and have been gone for eight hours..."

She sighed and opened the screen door and headed inside, Kimi followed her.

Their bedroom door was open and Delphine was sitting at the foot of their bed, feeding Angeline her evening bottle.