Pat Ritter. Books

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'She'll be here. Brides always make their Bridegroom wait just in case he decides at the last moment to clear out.' Alex imparted these wise words to his best friend.
Joe heard music. He turned to see his future bride escorted by her Pa enter the church move toward where he and Alex stood. When she came in line with him he looked across and saw how beautiful she appeared in her wedding dress and reminded him of an angel from heaven. His mind dull from the night before. His knees shaking.
'Who giveth this woman to this man.' Brother Paul spoke in a loud voice.
'I do.' Nat handed Hannah's hand over the Brother Paul.
Joe couldn't remember much more of the ceremony only when Brother Paul said, 'I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.' Joe turned to Hannah, lifted her veil from her face and softly kissed her lips. Brother Paul presented them to the congregation.
After the many good wishes finally the bridegroom with his bride arrived at the wedding breakfast at Alex's hotel. They were driven there by a coach driven by the owner of the livery stable. 'This is my wedding gift to each of you.' He told them.
During the wedding reception most of the guests congratulated the newly weds. Speeches given by Alex also by a couple of others who wanted to share their excitement of these two people finding love and now bound in holy matrimony.

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When it was time for Joe to speak he stood upright and determined to show how proud he felt in finally being married to Hannah. His speech bought tears to the eyes of many at the gathering. Everyone understood what Joe had gone through and held this person in the highest esteem.
Nat replied to Joe's speech. 'Joe, welcome to the family. Although you are my Overseer don't think this woman is going to change anything. I've known her all of her life and one thing is for certain, she always gets what she wants.' Everyone applauded and ed. 'Now you are part of the family, I have a gift for you and Hannah.' Nat handed Joe an envelope containing papers. 'These are the deeds to 'Tilbooroo Station'. The property is yours and Hannah's,' sat down.
Joe couldn't speak, his eyes covered with tears, his throat thick with emotion to thank his father-in-law for this kind gesture. After his tears cleared and he finally found his voice, he thanked Nat and Martha for their kind gesture. 'Need to ask my wife where she wants to go for our honeymoon.' He looked at his bride.
'Tilbooroo Station' of course. Where else.' Hannah said and smiled. Joe kissed his bride.

About The Author.

Dear Reader,

I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this book. This story is a follow-on from 'The Shearer'. Although it is fiction the characters in this story are taken from the names of my great grandparents who actually lived in Cunnamulla during this period. I've relied on my imagination and research to write about this period and hope by reading this story it takes you back to a period in Australian history of how the shearer and their families survived in those tough times.


Thank you.

Pat Ritter
Author/Self Publisher.

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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 1:

‘Tilbaroo Station’
By Pat Ritter
Published by Amazon

First published by Pat Ritter in 2016. Copyright © Pat Ritter. Publishing printing rights held by Pat Ritter. The author takes no responsibility for how the reader might apply the ideas contained in this ebook.

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This publication remains the copyright property of the author, may not be reproduced, copied nor distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed reading this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy, where they can also discover further works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Acknowledgements:
I personally thank Les Shipp, a fellow member of Pomona Writers Group who has been my beta reader. Each time Les read portions of this manuscript his comments: ‘this is by far the best book you’ve written. I feel in love with Ryan’ drove me on to write the best story yet. Thank you Les for your time and input.
Front cover. I want to express my gratitude to Melissa Smith. Thank you for doing a great job. If you want Melissa to create your next cover I highly recommend you do. She can be contacted on melissasmithbooks@hotmail.com.
AUTHORS NOTE

Before I commenced writing this book Ryan Carlson asked me to include him as a character in my next book. I agreed after receiving approval from his parents. The names Ryan Carlson, Melinda Carlson, Todd Carlson are true people. Other names are fictional as is this story. Historical events are true.

This is my first attempt to use true character names in a fictional book. Hope I’ve done these people proud. Writing this story provided challenges I’ve never faced before. While writing each character’s storyline reminders of different mannerisms interweaved through my mind.

If you enjoy reading this story, also fell in love with Ryan Carlson, please don’t forget to leave a review. Much appreciated.

Story Thus Far:

‘The Shearer’:
‘The Shearer’ is the first book in this series. Set in 1891 at the scene of ‘The Great Shearers Strike’. Major character Joe Ryan. Joe fought for better working conditions and wages for his fellow shearers. Along the way he fell in love with Hannah Young, a grazier’s daughter.
During 1890 Christmas Dinner with Hannah’s parents, her landlady Ma, and Hannah’s grandmother discovered they are sisters separated when Ma aged ten, Hannah’s grandmother at birth. First time they’ve met since being separated.
1891 Joe Ryan met his friend Joe Gibson, a fellow shearer to help fight for better working conditions and wages.
During the strike, graziers wouldn’t permit ‘striking shearers’ to shear their sheep. Contracted shearers were those who held a ‘non-union ticket to shear’ only hired by graziers. Joe Gibson held this ticket.
At the height of ‘Great Shearers Strike of 1891’ Joe Ryan gathered his shearers to strike on the outskirts of Cunnamulla. Four months they survived until police intervened to stop the strike. Joe Gibson met his friend Joe Ryan on the final day at the strike camp before police arrived. They exchanged clothing plus personal items. Joe Gibson took Joe Ryan’s place. They changed identities.

‘Click Go The Shears’:

‘Click Go The Shears’ is the second book in this series. Follow-on from ‘The Shearer’. Joe Ryan who has the identity of Joe Gibson escapes capture whilst Joe Gibson takes the place of Joe Ryan to be tried for leading the strikers. Thirteen strikers appeared in court, sentenced to three years imprisonment for their part. Joe Ryan (Gibson) serves his imprisonment at St Helen Island Prison in Moreton Bay.
At the end of his prison term both Joe’s meet at Barcaldine (original town where strike occurred) to return to their own identities. Joe Gibson returned to Cunnamulla to eventually meet Hannah who still resided with Ma at her boarding house. Joe and Hannah fell in love. They marry. Hannah’s father gifts his property ‘Tilbaroo Station’ to them as their wedding gift. The story continues:

‘Tilbaroo Station’

‘Tilbaroo Station’ is the third book in this series. Read on to follow the lives of Joe and Hannah:

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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 2:

Chapter 1

Hannah opened her eyes. A smile spread across her face. Thoughts raced through her mind clearly remembering love-making with her husband, not once, more times she cared to remember. Her body tingled. Her name now Hannah Frances Gibson, no longer Hannah Young. Memory returned of their wedding breakfast. Her father handed Joe an envelope. His words, ‘Congratulation. You are part of the family. I have a gift for you both. These are the deeds to ‘Tilbaroo Station’. The property now belongs to you’.
Where was her husband? His side of the bed empty. After dressing she walked to open the flap on the tent to a bright daylight morning which stung her eyes. Hannah blinked at the sudden sunlight to make out a male silhouette standing over a fire.
'Good morning husband.' She said in her sexy voice. Joe tendered the open fire in front of the tent, looked up, his wife standing before him.
'I wanted to serve you breakfast in bed.' Before his words escaped his mouth, she leaped toward him; threw her arms around his neck kissed him hungrily on the lips. Almost losing his balance, he murmured. 'Welcome to our new home.
Take a seat on the log near the fire. I'll have your breakfast ready as soon as the billy boils.' Hannah sat on a nearby log, wrapped her arms around herself, gazed about her surroundings. Happiness exploded in her mind. A cool breeze brushed her cheeks.
Sound of a ing kookaburra broke the silence. Hannah acknowledged the bird ed at her. Morning freshness touched her senses including bacon and eggs. Her husband selected a plate from the camp gear, placed two pieces of bacon with two fried eggs onto an enamel plate together with a knife and fork, handed them to her.
'This is our first breakfast together as a married couple.' His response sweet whilst throwing a handful of tea leaves into boiling water of the billy. With a fork stick, to hook the wire handle of the billy, lifted the handle placed the billy on the ground beside the fire to settle. Striking the side of the billy with the stick, tea leaves settled before pouring the golden liquid into a pannikin to hand to his wife.
Sitting with her legs crossed she rested the enamel plate on her thighs, her mouth watered. She devoured the food soon to leave the plate empty.
'Does this mean you cook breakfast each morning.' Hannah smiled at her husband. 'This was delicious, thank you. I'll wash up.'
‘When you slept. I fell in love with you all over again.' He leaned across pecked his wife on the cheek. 'I love you so very much. I'm the luckiest man alive. I'm going to work my butt off to make this property the best in the district. I still can't believe your father gifted this property to us as our wedding present.' A smile of joy spread across his face.
'I had no idea what Pa was going to do. A total surprise. You could've knocked me over with a feather when he handed you the envelope, told you he gave us ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Mind you, only the land. The ole homestead is gone after the fire. I've got to overcome the fellow burnt to death.' Hannah took a sip of her tea.

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'Living in a tent must be hard particularly when you're used to a fine home in Cunnamulla.' Joe said finishing his meal. 'Depends on how much time we have off to clean this place to start building.' His eyes moved to the burnt out remains of the homestead; his mind recognized nothing to salvage like the time when Ma's home burnt. After clearing the old homestead he'd start from scratch to build a new homestead for his wife plus future family.
'Doesn't matter Joe. My grandparents lived in a tent before they built their home on ‘Kahmoo Station’ after they married. We can do the same. Not much house-keeping to do only make the bed, sweep the floor. We'll be right.' She cheerfully explained.
Joe finished breakfast. 'I suppose we're lucky to be given the property. I've always wanted my own place. Have no idea when we'll be able to stock. Probably your father will have something in the pipeline.'
'Until then Joe, we'll make everything work.' Hannah finished her tea, started to gather the dishes placed them into a dish to wash. After completing this task, she tidied the camp, made their bed, swept the floor with a stick fastened with branches from a nearby mulga tree to use as a broom.
After celebrating their wedding in Cunnamulla on Christmas Day they bid farewell to their parents and Ma, gathered their belongings to start their new life with a new sulky given to them as a wedding present, hitched Joker to the sulky, made their way to ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Hannah wanted to spend their honeymoon on the property.
By late afternoon they arrived. Joe instantly chopped sufficient logs to frame a tent fasten with cord to secure each pole. Canvas covered these poles to create their first home. They both worked together until the sun set.

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Thank you dub. Much appreciated my friend. Today's page:

'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 4:

'That'll do us until tomorrow.' Joe said, 'I'll prepare a bath for you.'
Boiling water in a drum he poured the water into a tub after he placed the tub inside the tent.
‘Hannah. Your bath is ready.' Hannah enjoyed her time in the bath. When finished left the water for her husband to use. Hannah fondly remembered her husband making her a bath before retiring to bed to enjoy their first night as husband and wife.
After cleaning the camp-site Hannah said, 'what about you harness Joker. Show us around this wonderful property we now own.' Joe carried out her instructions. Soon both started off in the direction to the eastern boundary of the property. A beautiful day, clear sky with the sun almost at its zenith. A cool breeze softened the heat.
'I used to work here. Never imagined owning this place.' Joe explained to Hannah.
'Tell me of your experiences here Joe.'
'First time I met Joe Ryan. Funny when I think back on the time. Who would've thought our lives would finish like they have? Obviously, Joe found his life time ambitions whilst I couldn't be happier than to marry the girl of my dreams'. His look toward Hannah showed all his love he possessed in his heart and soul.
'A long time ago Joe.’ Hannah replied. ‘Show me where you shore the sheep. Do you remember?'
'Along here somewhere. Wasn't a shearing shed like your dad’s place, only yards with canvas on the ground. We shore in the open. Even slept in the open. Here, the remains of the yards.' Joe pointed to a set of broken bush built yards. 'They'll need to be repaired.' His memory flashed to the time shearing sheep in midday heat. Fighting the heat, flies difficult to sleep at night. So long ago, he pondered. Thinking of this time when he first got involved with Joe Ryan. What a fool. Hold on a minute, if he hadn't met Joe than he wouldn't have met Hannah married her. Blessing in disguise, Joe thought.

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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 5:

'We've got plenty of time to fix this place. With me working plus you employed by father, I'm certain we'll do everything. We've got the rest of our lives.' Hannah shared.
Joe looked into the distant mulga trees. Thick Mitchell grass growing knee high. Pastures rolled in Mitchell grass since the property had been destocked.
'We'll take a look over on that hill.' Joe pointed to the eastern boundary.
'How big is this place Joe?' Hannah asked.
'Probably about the size of your father's place, thirty thousand acres. I’ll ask him.' Joe appeared pleased with the type of country he discovered so far, more than sufficient stock feed to graze sheep. More than sufficient timber to build his home plus shearing shed.
They continued making their own track toward a rise to the eastern side of the property.
'What's over here? Looks like a bore. Water is gold in this region. If we have a bore, we’ll have a constant supply of water.' Joe continued toward a pipe with water flowing from the end into a large pool.
After stepping down from the sulky, he walked to the other side to help Hannah down. A large pool of water flooded the ground, a pipe positioned in the centre of the pool discharged water filling the pool to overflowing. Joe couldn't believe his luck.
'Hannah. Do you realise what this means? This is pure gold.' His excitement took Hannah by surprise.
'Why?' She looked at her husband as if he'd gone stark raving mad. She didn't understand his excitement.
'Water is gold in this country. We can make drains to most paddocks to water stock. Never be short of water. I wonder why the previous owner didn't use the water?' His mind returned to the morning he confronted Mr Clarke about moving from the property. Also, the following morning to find the homestead completely destroyed by fire. Mr Clarke dead. 'Why did he kill himself?' He muttered to himself.