Pat Ritter. Books

[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

‘Steady!’ called the station master, ‘here gentlemen, follow me’, and he escorted the thirteen visitors from the train onto the footpath outside the railway station. ‘Welcome home’. His words lost in the cheering and noise from the gathered crowd. A woman rushed to one of the thirteen, threw her arms around his neck, kissed him on the lips to welcome her husband home after three years.
Order began to take shape when a member of the celebration committee raised his hand to silence the crowd. ‘Welcome home gentlemen.’ His words sincere, he shook each hand before calling on a photographer to take a photograph of the men who each showed on their faces astonishment to know everyone cared on their return.
After the photographer took sufficient photographs of the thirteen men they mingled with the crowd to find their love ones and friends who they missed since being imprisoned. Joe and Harold waited their time to meet the thirteen leaders, especially one Joe Ryan. Would he recognise him after three years? Deep seated in his mind he remembered that faithful morning when they swapped places?
‘Do you know any of these fellows?’ Harold asked excitedly.
‘There’s something I need to tell you.’ Joe said to Harold.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

‘What is it?’ He questioned, most concerned. Joe had never been serious about anything since they met more than three years ago. This instant concern worried Harold who would give his life for Joe.
‘I’m not Joe Gibson. That’s Joe Gibson who lay on the ground in front of the others.’ Joe explained pointing at the men having their photograph taken.
‘What’d mean you’re not Joe Gibson?’ Harold screwed his face in amazement, his eyes almost popped from his head.
‘I’m Joe Ryan. He took my place more than three years ago because I am a coward.’
Harold couldn’t believe the words he was hearing. ‘Were you one of those leaders who went on strike?’ Harold asked in a stern voice. He stared Joe in the eye.
‘Yes, Joe came to our camp on the morning the police were coming to arrest me and we changed places. He was arrested as me and I continued his life as Joe Gibson. I hated lying to you Harold but I couldn’t tell you the truth. I’m sorry.’
If Harold’s face was a dagger, he would've struck him dead on the spot, ‘you were one of those bloody shearers who went on strike and almost crippled the country? You lied to me! We’ve been together for the past three years, living and working together. I believed in you!’ Harold’s eyes filled with tears.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

‘I’m sorry Harold, I couldn’t tell you. I'm ashamed another person took my place. I didn’t want to go to gaol.’
‘The way this is Joe, he’s the hero and you’re nothing but a bloody coward for what you did. I never want to lay eyes on you again.’ Harold walked away and joined the crowd heading toward the hotel. Joe bowed his head in shame.
A crowd forced their way into the hotel when the thirteen leaders entered. Joe followed, purchased a tumbler of beer and found a seat in a corner of the public bar. He wanted to be alone to think of a way to speak with Joe and explain how sorry he felt to swap places with him; I should have been man enough to go myself.
Everyone appeared overjoyed to celebrate the return of these fine men who took on the establishment, served their time and returned as heroes. What was he going to say when his turn came to speak with the true ‘Joe Gibson’. In actually fact, he’d tied of the charade being someone he wasn’t and wanted his old identity back as ‘Joe Ryan’.
Once the celebrations died down Joe noticed a stranger approach him, ‘can I sit here?’ The stranger asked.
Joe immediately identified him as Joe Gibson. He stood, put his hand out to shake the stranger’s hand not knowing if the stranger recognised him or would shake his hand. ‘I've been waiting for you Joe.’
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

The stranger’s right hand shook Joe’s hand. ‘Who are you?’ The stranger said.
‘I’m Joe Ryan!’
Fury began to show in the stranger’s face. If this meeting was going to finish the way he thought it would, he'd receive his punishment without fighting back. Having told his friend Harold about his true identity Joe had no knowledge of what was about to happen. I can’t blame him for hating me for what he’s gone through the past three years, just got to take whatever is coming to me, Joe waited to be punched in the face. Without reason the stranger said, ‘Joe Ryan. Thought about this moment for the past three years. Dreamed about when I’d finally meet you again and what I was going to do to you when this moment arrived. When I think back to the moment we swapped places, it was my idea and not yours, so I take full responsibility for what happened. Could I get my old identity back please?’ They shook hands as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen one another for a long time.
‘Mate, I’m pleased to. I want to be Joe Ryan again’. Joe placed his hand inside his coat pocket and extracted the proper Joe Gibson identity and handed the documents to him.
They spoke about their private journey since each had changed places. The longer they spoke, the better and calmer each became reminiscing about their past. ‘Who do you think I met in St Helena Island Gaol?’ Joe Gibson said with a grin on his face.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

‘Many I expect but no one comes to mind.’
‘Billy Wells, he recognised me after a couple of years admitted I wasn’t you. My eyes are a different colour to your eyes. Our secret is safe with him.’
‘Are you sure, don’t forget he robbed the stagecoach and stole Hannah’s necklace and ring?’ Joe Ryan replied in disbelief.
‘He’ll be right, we formed quite a bond in there, it’s a shame he’s a stagecoach robber but nothing we can do about that. Speaking of Hannah, you heard anything from her since you left Cunnamulla?’
‘Ah, no, after you were arrested I went to Ma’s house and explained what happened between us. Ma got righteous and told me she never wanted me near her again. Why?’
‘Because Hannah came to speak with me before I left Cunnamulla and I told her to take care of your horse. She said she would until I returned to Cunnamulla.’
‘I got no qualms about Hannah having the horse, she’ll take good care, don't worry about that. I won’t be returning to Cunnamulla, if ever. I want to stick around here to help out these shearers. Nothing's changed since the last strike and word around town there’s going to be another strike soon. I might even run for parliament.’ Joe Ryan explained.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

‘If that’s the case, I’m getting out of here as soon as I can. Three years in St Helena Island Prison was enough for me and I never want to go back.’
‘How are you off for money?’
‘Got none. Didn’t earn anything in prison.’
Joe dug into his pocket and extracted twenty pound notes, ‘here is five hundred pounds, here.’ he handed the wad of notes to Joe.
‘Wait a minute, I can’t take this.’
‘Take it! I won most of it when Jackie Howe broke the Australian record for shearing the most number of sheep in one day. Only a small portion of what I owe you. That’s all the money except for some change. I’ll get by. Should be enough to re-start your life. It's only a pittance for what you did.’ Relief flowed through Joe's body when his friend folded the money and placed it into his coat pocket.
‘Ah, thanks, thanks a lot. I had no idea of how I was going to survive until I got a job. This will keep me going until I get one. I intend to return to Cunnamulla and meet Hannah. If you don’t mind.’
‘Mate, after what happened, I wish you the best of luck, and say ‘hi’ to her when you meet her and tell her ‘I’m sorry’ for how everything worked out.’
‘After I was arrested she came to the police station and we spoke. She told me about us swapping places and wanted to make things right.
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[patritter]

'Click Go The Shears':

I told her to forget about what I’d done and to ‘get on with her life’. I noticed you walking along the side of the river when Constable Fitzgerald escorted me to Charleville. Thought I was a goner a few times because he spoke about the time you helped him with Bluey Simpson when loading Bluey onto the wagon after you uncovered his body.’ Joe expressed in a hushed voice, he couldn’t believe how his life had turned out this way. He never would've imagined, served a term of imprisonment and to do it for another person. Must’ve had rocks in my head to do what I did! He pondered and smiled.
‘Joe, honestly I truly appreciate everything you did for me. I am a coward, and if at anytime in the future I can help you in anyway, I owe you, mate,’ Joe’s said in a sincere voice.
‘Hopefully we never go through the past three years again. A good bed would be a blessing because six of us had a hammock each in only one cell for the whole time. I’ll never forget these fellows; they are the heroes, and each one kept me alive.’
‘Got anywhere to stay?’
‘No – I’m heading back to the train and sleep in the carriage. I want to be on the train when it leaves in the morning. Thanks for your generosity. This is enough money to keep me going until I find work. I want to go to Cunnamulla and meet Hannah. I still can’t get her soft voice out of my head when we last spoke more than three years ago.’ Joe shared his thoughts.
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