Pat Ritter. Books

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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 85:

‘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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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 86:

‘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.
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 87:

Chapter 10

Joe hired a sulky and harnessed Joker, he parked at the rear of the hotel. 'Won't be a minute Joker, I'll get the ladies', he told the horse not knowing if the horse understood him.
'Are you ready?' He asked Hannah when he entered the rear of the hotel.
'Just about, Ma is trying on a few things then we'll be ready to go,' Hannah waved Joe away. 'We'll met you outside as soon as Ma is ready. She wants to visit Mr Cummings at the hospital before we leave town.'
Joe returned to the sulky. When Ma and Hannah appeared at rear of the hotel he helped them to their seat. Hannah sat beside him. He quickly grabbed the reins and clicked Joker to head toward the hospital.
He parked at the front entrance and stepped down to help Ma and Hannah safely onto the ground, 'I'll wait here with Joker while you both visit,' he stood beside the sulky to wait.
Hannah led Ma through the front doors. The Matron seated behind a desk. She leaped to her feet to moved her large frame around the desk and rushed to Ma and placed her huge arms around her. 'Ma, I'm sorry about the fire. How are you feeling?'
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 88:

Ma's body shook and placed her arms around the Matron, 'we're lucky to be alive, if it wasn't for Alex, honestly, we would not have survived.'
'Never mind,' the Matron said patting Ma on her back. 'Do you want to visit Mr Cummings?' She asked and released Ma.
Ma nodded. 'How is he?' Her lips quivered.
'He's alive, the doctor will explain everything to you, he's about to do his rounds. You can go and see Mr Cummings. He's in the ward across the hall.'
Both ladies left the Matron and entered the ward, Mr Cummings lay on a bed fully wrapped in bandages with slits open for his eyes and mouth. He reminded Hannah of a mummy. Ma walked close to the bed, Mr Cummings head moved toward the two ladies and he tried to speak. 'I'm sorry Ma', he whispered and fell silent.
Ma didn't know what to do until she heard Hannah say, 'that's alright Mr Cummings, you get better and we'll come and see you again.' She took Ma's arm and led her from the room.
Walking along the corridor the doctor stopped them, 'Ma, Hannah. How are you both feeling? Terrible thing happened losing your home and business. Mr Cummings told me it was his fault because when he got up out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, he accidentally knocked over the lantern which smashed to the floor. He fell and bumped his head. Next he remembered being carried out of the house by Alex. Do you want me to examine you both before you leave.'
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 89:

'We're more concerned about Mr Cummings.' Hannah replied.
'Yes, I hope he pulls through, most of his body sustained burns.'
'I think we'll be right, thank you. We off to visit Pa and mother.' Hannah replied.
'If you need my help, call me immediately. I'm always available. I'll keep you up-to-date with Mr Cummings condition. I've got my rounds to do.' He bid the two ladies farewell to continue his rounds.
Joe helped the ladies to their seat and quickly took his seat in the sulky. Taking the reins in both hands he wanted to ask the condition of Mr Cummings but thought better of it because of the look on Ma's face. He decided to mind his own business.
They crossed the rickety old wooden bridge over the Warrego River headed west. Joe had no idea where the turn-off to Kahmoo Station but wasn't certain how far before he needed to turn. 'How far to your parents property?' Joe asked Hannah.
'About ten miles, take a couple of hours. There's a sign on your left with the name of the station.' Hannah told Joe.
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 90:

Joe clicked Joker to a quicker pace surprised Mitchell grass plains grew as pasture rich in protein for stock to fatten. A slight breeze brushed his face, heat from the sun beat on his back, he pulled his hat firmer down on his head.
Thoughts rushed through his mind of Hannah seated beside him. Her womanly scent filtered into his nostrils. In his mind's eye she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met and couldn't understand why Joe Ryan did what he did.
Both ladies remained quiet until Hannah said, 'Joe, Mr Cummings was bandaged from head to toe. I couldn't stay,' she sobbed holding her hand to her mouth.
Joe let go of one rein and placed his arm around her shoulder, 'don't worry, he's in the right place to have treatment. Hope he survives. Did you find out how the fire started?'
'The doctor told us Mr Cummings got up during the night to go to the toilet and accidentally knocked over the lantern, he knocked his head and only remembered Alex saving him.' Hannah shared.
'Poor Mr Cummings,' Ma whispered.
They continued along the stony road until Joe noticed a broken sign, 'Kahmoo Station'. 'There it is,' and pointed to the sign. He'd released his arm from Hannah once she settled.
'I'll need to tell Pa about fixing the sign. This might be your first job when he hires you,' she said in surprise.
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 91:

'When he hires me!' Joe expressed in an inviting tone of disbelief.
'Yes, when he hires you. I'll tell him to hire you, he'll do as I ask. I'm his favourite daughter.'
'You're his only daughter.' Ma smiled.
'How can you tell him to hire me. You don't know who I am.' Joe replied in an alarmed voice.
'Don't worry, and what do you mean, I don't know you. Joe Gibson, you are one of the most honourable men I've ever had the fortune to meet. What you did to take the place of that other Joe,' she couldn't say his last name, 'is the bravest and most courageous act I witnessed in my twenty-six years.' Hannah smiled. 'There's Pa and mother.'
Joe stopped the sulky in front of the homestead, Hannah waved and shouted, 'Pa - mother.' Joe quickly stepped down and came around to Ma's side to help both ladies safely on the ground.
'Hannah, Ma, so wonderful to see you both again. Who is your friend?' Pa said when he wrapped his arms around Ma and Hannah and kissed them each on the cheek.
'Pa, this is Joe Gibson, he's been so kind to bring us here.' Ma said. 'Martha, how are you, so nice to see you again.' She hugged her.
'Joe Gibson,' Nat said and put his hand out to shake Joe's hand. Joe took Nat's hand to complete the ritual bush greeting. 'What you did is most commendable. Join us in a cuppa.'
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