Pat Ritter. Books

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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 68:

Nat waited on the front veranda to meet them. Sun falling below the horizon when they arrived at the homestead. Nat rushed to Joe. Ryan leaned against Joe.
‘How did you go? Must’ve taken a lot out of Ryan because he’s asleep.’ Nat said lifting Ryan from the sulky to walk him inside. Melinda met them on the top steps.
‘I’ll take Ryan from here. Thank you, Nat.’ Melinda helped Ryan stand upright walk with his mother into the house. ‘Sit here.’ Martha handed Melinda a glass of water. After Ryan drank the water he became alert. ‘Stay here for a moment, rest.’ His mother commanded.
‘You have a fine boy Melinda. You should’ve seen him. What he did. How he found water, absolutely incredible.’ Joe replied excitedly.
‘He found water.’ Nat’s voice raised standing behind Joe.
‘You should’ve seen him. I’m so very proud of this little man. He has a gift which is valuable out here in the outback.’ Joe explained. ‘Hasn’t Todd returned yet?’ Joe asked.
‘No. Not yet. I’m worried about him. He may be lost. He left hours ago.’ Melinda’s concerns flowed over to Nat who understood his property like the back of his hand.
‘Don’t worry too much Melinda. Even if Todd got lost he’s only got to give the horse his head. They’ll be home in no time. If he’s not back in another hour, I’ll saddle up go look for him.’ Nat told the gathering.
Just then a horse whinnied. ‘That’d be him now.’
They rushed outside Todd dismounted from his horse. ‘How’re you go Todd?’ Nat asked. ‘Here, I’ll do that. You go say hello to your family. They’re worried about you.’ Nat took hold of the horse’s reins.
‘Thank you Nat. I’ve never been on such a huge property before. The horse bought me home. I would’ve been lost otherwise. He’s a good horse. Thank you.’ Todd replied leaving Nat with the horse walked to the homestead. On the front veranda greeted by Melinda and Ryan.
‘You’re surely not returning to Cunnamulla tonight. Plenty of beds and food. Have a clean-up. I’ll have a meal on the table shortly. You’re all welcome to stay the night.’ Martha pleased to have company particularly women folk.
After a hearty meal of roast mutton with vegetables the men moved to the front veranda whilst the women washed up cleaned the kitchen. Once everyone settled on the front veranda Joe told his story of Ryan finding water. Others couldn’t believe his gift or what he went through. Todd wanted to tell his story but after listening to Joe skite about Ryan’s efforts he decided not to steal his son’s thunder. In his mind, he thoroughly enjoyed his day wanted to do the same more often when the opportunity arose.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 69:

Chapter 10

After breakfast the following morning Todd asked Joe to show him where Ryan found water. Also, the bore behind the shearing shed plus the other bore on ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Todd wanted to officially record these findings.
‘Can I come too?’ Ryan asked, excitement in his voice.
‘Naturally.’ Joe replied. ‘Without you we’d never have found water on this place.’
‘We haven’t found water yet Joe. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.’ Todd said.
‘Don’t worry Todd. My wages are on young Ryan.’ He slapped him on the shoulder. ‘I’ll bet my next year’s wages water is here after ole Billy Campbell starts to drill.’ Joe smiled.
‘We’ll be off then. Catch up with you ladies when we return.’ Todd said.
This time they each rode a horse. Ryan rode a pony which Hannah used to ride when she was Ryan’s age. He loved the pony.
‘Thank you Mr Young to allow me to ride this pony. I love him.’ Ryan smiled taking hold of the reins.
‘Then he’s your pony Ryan. Accept the horse and saddle for payment in finding water. The least I can offer.’ Nat said riding beside Ryan.
‘Can’t I pay you for the pony and saddle?’ Todd asked. ‘I don’t like charity.’
‘Todd, Buttons is older than Hannah. He’s safe, sure at foot. Still has a few years left in him. He’s a good little pony to start Ryan off. Later on, when he becomes a better rider I’ll have another to give him. Do you realise how important a job he’s done here in the outback?’ Nat wanted to let Todd realise he wanted to give Ryan a present which he justly deserved. If Ryan had been a better rider Nat would’ve given him a better horse for now Buttons would do the job for Ryan.
‘Thank you Mr Young. I’ll look after Buttons. I promise.’ Ryan smiled, kicked Buttons to go faster.
They arrived at the pile of sticks marking the spot where Ryan divined for water. After dismounting, tying their horse’s reins to a nearby tree Todd extracted a notebook from his pocket and a pencil. ‘Nat. What do you call this paddock?’ He asked.
‘Shearing paddock.’ Nat replied confidently.
Todd wrote particulars in his notebook. ‘Position of this location is due south-west about a mile from your homestead.’ Todd asked.
Nat thought about Todd’s comment, ‘Yes, I agree. What’s this about Todd?’ Nat inquired. Todd sketched his finding in his notebook before answering Nat.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 70:

‘We’re lucky to start this project now because in this region, only two bores with the possibility of this one make three. Each time a new bore is established we need to record where, when to make a record of our findings. After I return home, I’ll post this information to Brisbane office.’ Todd explained.
‘This’ll be a lot of work.’ Nat replied.
‘Yes. As Chairman of ‘The Great Artesian Water Basis Committee’ I need to record all details for history. In one hundred years from now someone may be looking for information when, where the first artesian bore in south-west Queensland was discovered. We’ll have the correct information recorded at the time.’ Todd’s explanation appealed to the others.
‘You will record your son Ryan Carlson divined for the water at this bore. Won’t you.’ Nat requested smiling at Ryan.
‘He’s only ten years old. Yes, I suppose his name will be recorded as finding this water. If water is here.’ Todd entered details in his notebook.
‘Water is here. Don’t you worry about that. My belief is in young Ryan. I would never have believed. With me own two eyes. Truly amazing. His name will go down in history. In one hundred years, they’ll probably make a statue of him in the west as the diviner who saved south-west Queensland from the worst drought in history.’ Joe exclaimed in a determined voice.
Todd continued to make notes. They remounted headed to the shearing shed to visit the next bore.
‘I can’t tell you when this bore was put down. Been here as long as I remember. Dad must have put the bore down whilst I was absent at school. I’ll ask ole Billy Campbell. Because if he didn’t drill the bore, his father must have done.’ Nat explained.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 71:

Todd took particulars in his notebook.
‘What about we ask the ladies if they want to accompany us to ‘Tilbaroo Station’. I think Hannah would love to show them the property particularly where we intend to build our home. They may even make lunch.’ Joe said.
‘Great idea Joe. We can leave to return home before dark.’ Todd added.
Within an hour all three couples included Ryan escorted one another from ‘Kahmoo Station’ to ‘Tilbaroo Station’ following one another. Buttons tied to Todd and Melinda’s sulky. Joe opened the front gate to ‘Tilbaroo Station’ allowed the other two sulkies to enter then closed the gate. Re-joining Hannah they led their party to the bore on the eastern end of the property.
Melinda took a deep breath of fresh air releasing slowly. ‘This is beautiful Hannah. Is this where you’re building your new home?’ She asked not believing living at the same place herself which would never happen in a hundred years.
‘Yes. Right here.’ Hannah stood where the front of the home would be. ‘I want the same home we have in Cunnamulla. Joe built that one so he can build this one.’ Hannah looked at Joe who released the harness on Joker to let him gallop away in the paddock.
‘Can I ride Buttons now?’ Ryan called to his father hoping he was allowed to do so.
‘Go for your life young man. Everything is safe out here.’ Joe called. ‘He’ll be safe Todd and Melinda. Don’t worry. What can go wrong?’ Joe finished with a smile on his face.
‘Be careful.’ Melinda replied not wanting to over-ride Joe’s decision. ‘Don’t go too far from here because we’re having lunch shortly.’ Melinda worried about Ryan because he was her only child growing up fast. Ryan, her little man by finding water in this dissolute outback country would, she hoped, not swell his head too much allow him to grow up as a boy not a man, yet.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 72:

‘Thanks Mom.’ Ryan mounted Buttons squeezing her flanks instantly caused Buttons to trot away from the camp. Ryan wanted to find new discoveries riding back along the track they came.
‘Todd. The bore’s over this way.’ Joe pointed toward a pool of water with water flowing from a borehead. ‘I want to look at the boredrain we made. Hope water continued to flow to Moonjaree Creek.’ Joe told Todd who took his notebook and pencil from his pocket started writing.
‘I’ll come with you.’ Nat called to Joe walked faster to catch up with him before they arrived at the fenceline. Climbing through the fence they followed the boredrain down toward Moonjaree Creek.
‘Apart from a little rollie polly.’ Joe pointed toward the creek. ‘The creeks started to flow. We’ll be right.’ Joe smiled pleased with his idea to flow water from the borehead into Moonjaree Creek. They commenced to return to the others.
‘Lunch is almost ready.’ Hannah called to the others. Wonder how far Ryan is away. She placed her hands around her mouth to form a tunnel shouted in a loud voice, ‘Cooee’ Joe and Nat recognized her call. They replied with ‘Cooee’ of their own. Sound of horse hooves entering their campsite. Ryan pulled Buttons up beside the camp.
‘Mom, Dad. An old burnt out homestead plus old sheep yards.’ His excitement overflowed telling his parents discoveries he made dismounting from Buttons.
‘I’ll help you unsaddle Buttons.’ His father said undoing the surcingle to remove the saddle and bridle from the horse. Buttons walked a short distance away began to munch on the fresh grass growing nearby to the bore. ‘Let’s have something to eat.’ Todd removed Ryan’s hat ruffled his hair. They joined the others. Nat and Joe arrived shortly afterwards to take their place around the luncheon setting.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 73:

‘Mr Gibson, Mr Young. A burnt-out homestead, old broken down sheep yards.’ Ryan told them in an excited voice when they joined the others.
‘That’s the old homestead. The previous owner who lived in the homestead perished in the fire.’ Nat explained to Ryan.
‘Ryan.’ Joe got his attention. ’I worked at the shearing yards many years ago when I shore sheep here for the owner who perished in the fire. In those times, we didn’t have a shearing shed only shore the sheep on a large tarpaulin in the middle of the day. Hot work.’ Joe explained. After explaining his past life to Ryan, he said. ‘If we keep getting visitors regularly Hannah, I better build a shelter for shade.’ Joe expressed taking a sandwich from Hannah. Nodded his thanks.
‘Can I help Mr Gibson?’ Ryan asked.
‘If your parents are agreeable. You can help me anytime. In fact, how long before returning to school after the holidays?’ Joe asked Ryan.
‘They’ve got a week before school starts.’ Hannah interrupted.
‘Would you like to stay with Nat, Martha for the next week? Help me round up sheep?’ Joe asked.
Ryan’s smile spread across his face. Turning to his parents he pleaded. ‘Can I Mom. Can I Dad?’ His smiling face showed how much he wanted to stay to help Joe.
They looked at one another. Todd gave a slight nod. Melinda said. ‘Nat and Martha. Is Ryan okay to stay for the remainder of his school holidays?’
‘Absolutely.’ Nat said. A broad smile filled his face. ‘I’ll have ole Billy Campbell out here to bore where Ryan divined for water. No trouble at all. Be a pleasure to have him stay with us.’ Nat concluded.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 74:

‘Ryan, you behave for Mr Young and Mrs Young. I don’t want any bad reports.’ Todd explained to Ryan.
‘I’ll be on my best behaviour Dad. I Promise.’ He crossed his heart hugged his parents thanked them for allowing him to stay.
‘Martha, he hasn’t got any clothes.’ Melinda said.
‘Don’t worry about clothes. I’ll wash nightly so he’ll have clean clothes during the day.’ Martha solved the problem.
‘Todd. You never told us how you went yesterday with your hunting.’ Nat asked.
‘Apart from getting lost, you mean. Lucky your horse understood how to come home. I could’ve still been lost. I never realised how much bush. Looks the same everywhere.’ Todd, a little embarrassed after admitting he depended on Nat’s horse to find their way home.
‘The horse would find his way home. Is this the first time you’ve been this far west?’ Nat asked.
‘Yes. I’ve never been further than we’ve just been. I never dreamed this country being so dry. Likened to a desert. Those bushy trees everywhere all look the same when you have no idea where you are.’ Todd didn’t want to admit his inability to understand the environment. He was put on the spot with Nat’s questions.
‘Those bushy trees are mulga trees. We depend on them to feed sheep in dry times, like now. Normally Mitchell grass grows everywhere. Look, over in that paddock. Haven’t had stock for a couple of years.’ Todd was impressed by Nat’s knowledge of his craft as a grazier.
‘Your knowledge of this area impresses me?’ Todd said to Nat.
‘Mate. I’ve lived here all of my life. Worked in each paddock apart from ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Lived through good times, now experiencing the worst drought this country has ever had.’ Nat explained in a serious voice.
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