Pat Ritter. Books

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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 81:

‘Come to the kitchen and I’ll make you ladies a lovely cup of tea, or if you want something stronger, let me know. Come along Joe, join us.’ Alex took control and seated the three at the kitchen table. He made a cup of tea for each and left, shortly returned with a bottle of whiskey which he poured liquid from the bottle into each of their cups.
‘Thank you Alex, I don’t know what we’d done without your help. Saving Mr Cummings and us. How can I ever thank you’, Hannah expressed her true feelings.
‘Don’t worry about a thing, I’ve a room for you both. You can stay here as long as you want.’ Alex smiled, he knew Ma for many years and understood she was not careless enough to leave anything burning before she went to bed.
‘How’s Mr Cummings?’ Hannah asked.
‘Sergeant Gray took him to the hospital. He started the fire by accident. I overheard him tell Sergeant Gray he fell and knocked over the lantern. I’m certain Sergeant Gray will work out what happened.’ Alex shared with the group.
‘Is there anything I can do.’ Joe interrupted.
Feelings of appreciation swept over Hannah. ‘Thank you Joe for what you did. Will you be staying in town?’ Hannah's eyes sought out his face.

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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 82:

‘Yes, I decided to return to Cunnamulla after what happened.’ His head bowed in shame.
‘You’re most welcome.’ Ma said taking his hand in hers, ‘to do what you did for another human being is one of the bravest things possible .’ She continued to hold his hand. While she waited for Hannah to return after she left to let the horse out of the stable, she asked Alex who the stranger was who went with Hannah. Alex told her he was Joe Gibson who took Joe Ryan’s place after the strike. Memories of how Joe Ryan betrayed her after what she’d done to make him comfortable swept through her mind. She released her grasp on his hand and said, ‘Alex, thank you so much for offering us a place to stay. I don’t think I can sleep but a good lie down would make a difference.’
‘Everything will be okay Ma, come with me and I’ll take you to your rooms.’ Alex stood walked to keys hanging on a board opposite to where they were seated, took two keys from the board and handed one each to Hannah and Ma, ‘follow me ladies,’ he instructed.
‘See you in the morning Joe and thanks again.’ Hannah said and left the kitchen.
Ma couldn’t sleep, her mind focused on her future. Where am I going to live? She thought at the same time the morning sun broke across the horizon and shone into her room. No use lying here might get up and see if I can be of some use. She pushed the blankets back and got out of bed. Smell of smoke still clogged her nostrils and clothes she wore. Where will I get a change of clothes, mine are all burnt.

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Entering the kitchen Alex stood in front of the stove cooking breakfast, ‘how are you this morning Ma?’ Alex asked whilst tending to his cooking, ‘breakfast will be ready in a jiffy. Take a seat, the kettle’s boiled if you want a cup-of-tea.’ He continued about his task.
‘Can’t I do something for you; I owe you so much for saving our lives.’ Ma asked sitting down at the same chair she sat earlier.
‘No, you make yourself at home; this is your home as long as you want. By the way, people donated clothes for you and Hannah. Over on the counter beside the door, hope they fit.’ Alex replied. He finished cooking breakfast, piled food onto a plate and placed the plate in front of Ma, ‘here, get this lot into ya. If you want toast it’s on the table.’
‘Isn’t it kind of people in this town to donate these clothes, I’ll check them out soon after I eat something. I'm half dressed in my nightdress. Is Hannah up yet?’ Ma asked taking a piece of toast and began to eat her breakfast.
‘Don’t worry about Hannah, she and Joe rose earlier and gone in search for Joker, her horse. They each had breakfast. You relax Ma; we’ll take care of everything.’ Alex poured another cup of tea.
Ma finished her breakfast, ‘Alex, thank you, this was delicious. I didn’t realise how hungry I became. Now, I’ll wash up, got to earn my keep somehow. Goodness knows when I’ll be back to myself again. I haven’t a clue what I’m to do now I’ve lost my business and home.’ She almost cried, her feelings rose to the top realising her dilemma.

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Alex walked over to Ma wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hold, ‘let it all out Ma,’ he rubbed her back while she sobbed.
‘I’ll be right, thanks Alex. Just the shock of everything happening, I expect.’ Ma whimpered.
‘Don’t worry about anything. These clothes might fit. If not, we’ll find something else.’ Alex faced Ma with concern on his face.
Hannah and Joe walked into the kitchen, ‘Ma, you alright,’ she said when she noticed Alex holding Ma.
‘She’s worried about what’s going to happen next. You both can stay here as long as you want.’ Alex released Ma.
‘Joe and I found Joker and placed him back into his paddock. I’m afraid there’s nothing to salvage from your home. Everything is burnt to a cinder.’ Hannah explained to Ma.
‘What are we going to do Hannah?’ Ma squeaked placed her hands over her face.
‘We’re not feeling sorry for what happened. I’ll hire a sulky and take us to Pa and mother. I’m certain they’ll want you to stay there until we work out what to do.’ Hannah explained, ‘the good people of this town left us clothes to wear. I found a pair of trousers and shirt.’ Hannah paraded her clothes to Ma.

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‘I think that’s a good idea. Martha will help. When do we go? Ma said and walked to the cardboard box, opened it and sifted through the clothes, holding up a dress and underwear. ‘I think this will do’.
‘After we finish breakfast I’ll go and hire a sulky and we’ll head off.’ Hannah said.
‘Do you mind if I hire the sulky and come along with you.’ Joe asked. ‘I don’t want to intrude but I want to meet your father to ask if there's any work for me,’ Joe asked.
‘If it’s not putting you out. I’m certain my parents would love to meet you. I’ll tell him to hire you. You can use Joker if you want.’ Hannah explained.
‘Then as soon as we finish breakfast, I’ll hire the sulky, harness Joker and we’ll head out to your parent’s property.’ Joe said, his face spread into a smile.
‘I’ll go and change. Alex is there a chance to bathe before I leave.’ Ma asked.
‘Most certainly, I’ll bring the tub around to your room and you can bathe in private, I’ll find some incidentals for you. I won’t be long.’ Alex left the kitchen.
‘I’d better earn my keep by washing up and clearing away the dishes.’ Hannah started gathering the used dishes to place into a wash bowl.

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‘I’ll give you a hand, I learnt how to do this whilst I was on St Helena Island’, Joe commented. He moved toward Hannah found a cloth to dry the dishes after she’d washed and placed them onto the table.
‘What was it like in prison?’ Hannah asked gazing across at Joe.
‘Why?’ He answered.
‘I’d love to hear the whole story from when I last spoke to you in the cells at Cunnamulla police station the morning I visited you. Incidentally, thank you for allowing me to take care of your horse. I named him Joker. Hope you don't mind.’ Hannah kept washing the dishes.
‘Thank you for looking after the horse. Joe told me you’d take good care of him. He's much better than the last time I saw him almost four years ago. Ah, he mentioned you own him now.’ He explained.
‘I’d rather not speak about Joe Ryan if you don’t mind.’ Hannah replied sharply. ‘What you did to take his place puts you into a higher bracket of respect than Joe Ryan will ever reach.’ She almost spat the words from her mouth.
‘We buried the hatchet a couple of months ago when we spoke at Barcaldine after the celebration of our return. He apologised for what he’d done and if he could’ve taken it back, he would have. Its water under the bridge now and all I want is to get on with my life.’ Joe explained while finished wiping the dishes.

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‘I still want to listen to your story. When you’re ready to tell me,’ Hannah gathered a broom and swept the kitchen floor.
‘You’d be surprised who I met in St Helena Island Prison.’ Joe said with a smirk on his face knowing Hannah wouldn’t guess the person's name in a million years.
‘Wouldn’t been Billy Wells by any chance.’ She looked at Joe with a smile.
‘In fact, it was. We became quite close over the time we were there. He recognised I wasn’t Joe Ryan because of the different eye colour, how about it, he told me the secret was fine with him and couldn’t understand why I took the place of another person.’
‘I understand why he asked you that particular question because honestly I couldn’t figure it out myself. I still think you are a hero and my Pa thinks the same and will give you a job, I’m certain of it.’ She finished sweeping the floor and replaced the broom, ‘we’d better find out what’s keeping Ma. One last question before we go. Are you now Joe Gibson or Joe Ryan?’
‘Joe Gibson. I've got my papers to prove it.’ He answered.
‘Good, I don’t think I could’ve referred to you as Joe Ryan.’
Hannah checked on Ma who finished her bath and almost dressed. ‘What do you think of this dress?’ Ma asked Hannah when she entered her room.
‘It suits you. Are you ready?’
‘Yes, before we go to your parents home could we go to the hospital to visit Mr Cummings?’ Ma asked when she placed a bonnet onto her head.