Pat Ritter. Books

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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 113:

'Poor Mr Cummings, I think he would've enjoyed his service,' Ma said to Martha and Hannah seated at a table with refreshments.
'Yes, I think he would've.' Martha mentioned in between eating a sandwich and sipping tea. 'Hannah, obviously you and Joe are more then friends.' She queried.
'Mother, there's nothing to worry about. Joe is a good man. He cleared the block of land by himself and will be helping Mr Sullivan build the cottage. It's more than I can ask anyone to do. Yes, mother, I think he is the one!' Hannah said with confidence.
'I'm pleased you've finally found someone to look after you.' Ma finished, 'and he takes good care of you is most important. As long as he doesn't get any bright ideas to go on strike, like his namesake.' Ma smiled and almost giggled.
'Ma, you need not worry about Joe doing any of those foolish things. He is nothing like that other Joe,' she emphasised the name Joe.
'I understand sweetheart. Don't want you being hurt, that's all.' Ma kept eating; the sandwiches divine. 'When do you want to go to the court house?' She asked Hannah.
'Whenever you're ready. Now, if you're finished. Mother are you coming with us?' Hannah asked taking hold of Ma's hand to help her from her chair.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears' - Page 114:

'No, you two go along. I'll catch up with some folks. See you when you return.' Martha replied.
'I'll tell Joe where I'm going,' Hannah said and left to walk over to Joe and her father who appeared in deep conversation. 'Excuse me Joe and Pa, Ma and I are going to the court house to transfer the land,' Hannah shouted over her father's voice.
'We're in deep conversation Hannah,' her father replied abruptly.
'Do you need me?' Joe asked.
'No. We'll be right, you continue your conversation with Pa,' she leaned down and kissed Joe on the lips and kissed her father on the cheek and left, 'love you both'.
'I've never seen her more happier or content. You must be good for her.' Nat replied looking across to Joe and saw his face flush. Joe didn't give a reply only turned the flush into a smile. 'What were we talking about before Hannah interrupted us.' Nat asked.
'You were telling me about what work you want me to do after Hannah's cottage is built.' Joe replied.
'Yes, that's right. Tilbooroo Station. Since I bought the property, I can't get the mongrel off the place. He still thinks he owns the place.' Nat explained.
'That's where I first met Joe Ryan and fell into his trap to help him with his idea to save the shearers. I shouldn't complain because on the morning the police were to arrest him it was my idea to change places.' Joe told Nat taking a sip of his beer.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears' - Page 115:

'What you did son was one courageous act to take that coward's place,' Words exploded from Nat's mouth. 'What about when you're finished building Hannah's cottage we talk some more about what we'll do. There are plenty of plans for you and me.' Nat formed an opinion of Joe immediately. He intended treating Joe as a son he never had. His mind buzzed with ideas and visions of working with this man to show him more than a shearer's life.
'Thank you Nat. I don't know how long before the cottage is built, but hopefully Hannah should be in it by Christmas.' Joe sipped more of his beer.
'Another two here please Alex, we're thirsty,' Nat called to Alex who immediately served two more tumblers of beer to Nat and Joe.
'Cheers,' Nat said and clicked tumblers before taking a drink.
After saying farewell to her family Hannah held Joe's hand and said, 'I want to tell you about what happened at the court house. I'm so excited about owning this block of land and I see the cottage clear in my mind.' Hannah's excitement overflowed to Joe.
'Hannah, I need a cup-of-tea. Come on we'll make one in the kitchen. Got something to tell you.' He took Hannah's hand and led her to the kitchen. 'Sit while I make us a cuppa.' Hannah sat at the table and watched Joe top up the kettle with water, place the kettle on the stove top, take a couple of cups from the cupboard and sat them on the table. He emptied the old tea leaves from the tea pot and poured tea leaves into his hand and dispensed them into the tea pot before filling the tea pot with hot boiling water from the kettle. 'Time I told you my whole story.'
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears' - Page 116:

Hannah sipped her tea, relishing the taste. She couldn't remember when or if ever a man had made her a cuppa. 'What do you want to tell me?' Hannah leaned against the table waiting to hear Joe's story.
'After you spoke to me at the cells at Cunnamulla police station, I was shackled and placed in the back of a wagon. They took me to Charleville police station where I remained overnight.' He shared his story with Hannah including his trip by train to Rockhampton, meeting the other condemned Leaders of the strike. He told how strange to be called Joe Ryan instead by his correct name.
At the point of telling her about being found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment at St Helena Island Prison, and his collapse, Hannah sat stoic with tears flowing from her eyes. He wrapped her in his arms, 'don't cry.' He told her.
'Joe,' she blubbered amongst the tears and held on tight to him. 'He should've been there instead of you.'
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears' - Page 117:

'Often I thought these same thoughts. Now I'm here with you.' He kissed her on the forehead and hugged her tight, 'been all worthwhile'.
'Three years Joe. That's a long time in prison.' She said.
'Yes. We did it tough, but I got to meet twelve good Australians who believed in what they did. We all suffered together but looked after each other. Our sleeping quarters were a little cramped sleeping on hammocks, six to a room. Lucky I had the top hammock. I wanted to tell you my story so there are no secrets between us.' Joe felt better and relieved to share his story with the woman of his dreams. 'Your voice kept me alive.'
'I'm pleased my voice kept you alive. I can't imagine what you went through. I can tell you one thing Joe Gibson, you'll never need to go through that again as long as you live,' she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Joe returned the kiss.
'I was most impressed with your father this afternoon.' Joe said after they broke apart.
'Pa is a tough man, he's got to be. He's a good man and I love him very much. He's got plans for you and if I know Pa as I do you won't be shearing sheep.' Hannah shared, ideas floating through her mind seeing what her father had in store for Joe.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears' - Page 118:

'He spoke about the cocky still living on Tilbooroo Station. Reckons he still owns the place.'
'Pa tried to get rid of him for years since he purchased the place the same time he purchased the other properties. Pa's probably got an idea for you to sort him out.'
'Hannah, I'm a lover not a fighter.'
'Then prove it!' She took Joe by his hand and led him to her bedroom.

Chapter 13

At breakfast next morning Alex began to serve the food when Joe and Hannah entered. Hugging each other with broad smiles on their faces. 'Good morning Alex.' Hannah smiled. 'Isn't it the best morning you could ever have?' Hannah said hugging Joe.
'Why don't you two get a room', Alex said placing food on their plates.
In unison they both said, 'we did.' They sat at the table to eat their breakfast.
Hannah went off to work while Joe visited Jack Sullivan to find out what he could do to start building the cottage. 'You know how to use a adze?' He asked Joe.
'No, but I can learn. What's a adze?' He'd never heard of the name.
'A type of axe used to smooth timber. Over there with those tools.'
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 119:

Joe walked to the tools on the ground and picked up an implement similar to an axe but different shape. 'Is this it?'
'Yes, grab the cross-cut saw, bring the axe with you and I'll show you where to cut timber.' Joe picked up the two implements and walked to the wagon. Jack took up the reins and clicked his horse. They journeyed north from the town. Along a stretch of pine timber Jack stopped the wagon and got down, 'bring the cross-cut saw and axe, we'll fell a couple of these big trees and I'll show you how to strip them.'
Joe followed Jack's instructions and before long three huge trees lay on the ground. Jack stepped out three long steps from the butt of a tree and drove the axe into the place he stopped. 'We'll cut here,' and pointed to the spot. They cut across the tree using the cross-cut saw finished with three logs almost of similar length.
They loaded each log onto the back of the wagon, placed the implements into the wagon and returned to the block of land. After unloading these huge logs, Jack took the axe, sliced along one side of the log removing the bark. Trimming the rest of the log, he commenced to split the log into slabs of various thickness using the adze.
Joe studied Jack's work and wanted to have a go. He handed the adze to Joe who continued, finally completing the task of cutting the log into slabs. Jack said, 'we need more timber.' For the remainder of the week Joe continued his task of cutting trees, shedding bark and trimmed each log into suitable sized slabs.
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