Shelter Mountain Quotes

“You know, you own a bar and you don't keep alcohol at home," she said, breathless. "I could have had a shot--it sometimes slows labor."

"We'll have some on hand for the next one."

"You keep talking like that's gonna happen," she said. "How ridiculous."

"I think my record speaks for itself. But Mel. I just want to make them, not deliver them."

"I hear ya, buddy".....

-Jack and Mel”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“He shook his head again. 'I just can't figure out why anyone in his right head would bother these Virgin River women.'

'Yeah. Makes no sense.' Jack said.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Can't any of us stand up to those women?"

"Nope," said at least three men in unison.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“A little while later Jack walked into the kitchen at the bar and saw Preacher scowl his greeting. Bravely, Jack walked up to the counter. “Hey, man,” he said. “You were
right, I was wrong, and I’d like us to get back on the same team.”
“You sure this team of mine isn’t too much trouble for little you?” Preacher asked.
“Okay, you about done? Because this really hurts and I’m trying not to deck you right
now.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Now Preacher might manage a bar and hang out with men primarily, but he was unaccustomed to fathers who pushed their children out of sight. Rudely, at that. In his crowd, families were appreciated. Most of his friends were married with children, and the children were a part of everything. The women were nearly worshiped.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“It’s no good to lose touch with people who mean a lot,”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“You know, there’s this little rule about opinions. They’re only good when someone actually asks you for them.” “He”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“John?” came a small voice. There, standing in the doorway from the kitchen, was Chris with his favorite snuggly toy, the one with the blue-and-gray plaid flannel leg. “What’cha doing, John?” Preacher’s face melted into a soft smile and he went to the boy. He lifted him into his arms. “Huntin’,” he said. “Just a little huntin’.” “Where’s Mom?” Preacher kissed his pink cheek. “She’ll be back pretty soon. She’s off on errands. And you’re going to stay with Mel and Brie while we’re huntin’.” *”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“She lay on her back, her belly sticking up like a mountain on top of her little frame, and Jack couldn’t keep his hands off of it. While there was a time he couldn’t keep his hands off the rest of her—and she had no doubt they would be there again before long—right now it was the antics of his baby within her that occupied him thoroughly. He would let go a loud bellow when her entire abdomen shifted, caving in on one side and protruding enormously on the other. And he especially liked when it appeared a foot was sliding in a large lump up one side. She could actually doze while he occupied himself with her pregnancy. It brought to her mind what he was going to look like rolling a ball on the floor with their baby girl, bouncing her on his knee, twirling her around over his head. “We”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“He knelt on Mel’s side and gently moved her hair away from her eyes. One eye opened and there was not a smile in it. “Baby, are you pissed?” he asked gently. “Yes.” “I’m sorry. I might’ve had one too many.” “I know. I hope you’re in agony.” “What are you doing out here?” “Trying not to sleep in an ashtray.” “What’s Brie doing here?” “We’ll talk about that later.” “Am I going to be punished?” he asked. “Yes,” she said. And she closed her eye. It turned out that the great lover, Jack Sheridan, didn’t know his way around women nearly so well as he thought.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“He still had on last night’s trousers. Not a good sign. However, she had not killed him in his sleep—and that was a good sign. She was probably saving his execution for later, when he could feel it. He stood up straight in front of the mirror. He stuck out his hairy chest. He flexed, popping out tattooed biceps. I am a marine, he said to himself. She is five foot three. He sagged visibly. Who am I kidding? was his next thought. He”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Mel? Are you nervous about—you know—giving birth?” “Not at all. You know why, big fella? Because I’m meeting John Stone at Valley Hospital, and if everything goes to hell, I’m having a big fat epidural. Afterward, I’m having a rare steak and a tall beer.” “Mel,” he said, running a hand down her hair onto her shoulder. “I want you to have the epidural.” “Jack—are you nervous?” “Oh, baby, nervous doesn’t touch it. You’re my whole world. I don’t think watching you hurt is something I can do. But I gotta be there, you know?” She smiled and shook her head. “You know how you always said I should trust you? Well, now it’s time for you to trust me. I know what I’m doing, Jack.” “Yeah. Well, that makes one of us.” When”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“We should think about naming your new playmate,” she said. “I have a suggestion,” he said. “Emma.” “I like Emma,” she said. “Old girlfriend?” “Mother. My mother,” he said. “Aw, that’s sweet. I think your mother would be happy you’re finally serious.” “Mel?”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“I closed up the bar. I was thinking about a short drink before calling it a night. How about you? Wanna come down for a little while?” “For a drink?” He shrugged. “Whatever you want.” He peered past her. “He asleep?” “Out like a light, despite an overdose of cookies.” “Yeah, I probably gave him too many. Sorry.” “Don’t worry—he loves making them. If he makes them, he has to eat them. It’s fun—sometimes that’s more important than nutrition.” “I’ll do whatever you say,” Preacher said. “I could cut him back. He likes ’em though. He especially likes burning his mouth on them. He doesn’t wait so good.” “I know,” she said, smiling.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Although Christmas Eve wasn’t until the following day, all of Jack’s sisters and at most of the husbands if not all the kids were there to meet them.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Valenzuela”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“You know, there’s this little rule about opinions. They’re only good when someone actually asks you for them.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“His idea of the perfect life, the best he could have in the universe, was sitting right next to him. So close, yet so far out of his reach.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“It took a lot to straighten your back like that, hold your head up, be the strength and not the victim.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Then she saw him. Standing up front, at a place where a fireplace would eventually be erected. Chris stood in front of him; John’s hands were on his shoulders. Jack and Mike stood beside him. Even from her distance she could see the light brighten his eyes. He was a pillar of a man, probably six-six in his boots. Today, for the first time ever, he wore a linen shirt with a button-down collar and she suspected his jeans were new, but she doubted he’d ever owned a tie. Before she could even make the walk to meet him at their makeshift altar he broke away from his groomsmen and strode toward her, reaching out a hand to take her the rest of the way. He didn’t move slowly anymore, not where she was concerned. This man had saved her life, changed her life. To his very core, he was all goodness. He was so strong, so authentic. He was so magnificent. *”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“When did you know?” Brie asked her. “When did you know for sure he was absolutely perfect for you?” “Not right away,” she admitted. “I wanted no part of a man who claimed he could take care of me, for obvious reasons. But John moves real slow.” She laughed. “Real slow. It was all in the way his frown would slowly go away when he looked at me, the way his voice would get all tender and soft when he talked to me. His caution, his shyness. It takes a lot for a man like John to make a move. He has to be sure of everything. By the time he got around to telling me he loved me, I thought I’d die waiting for him. But he’s a careful man—and he doesn’t change his mind.” “How’d he do it?” Brie wanted to know. “Propose.” “Hmm.” She thought. “Well, we’ve talked about this for a while—about making a commitment when things got under control. He told me at Christmastime he wanted to be with me forever, add to the family, and I wanted that, too. But when you come down to the exact, official proposal, he was peeling potatoes. He stopped what he was doing and looked across the kitchen at me. My hair was stringy, I was sweating from the heat of the stove and doing dishes, and he said, ‘Whenever you’re ready, I want to marry you. I’m dying to marry you,’ he said.” “Well,” Brie said, unimpressed. “That must have knocked you right off your feet.” “Yeah, it did,” she said in a sigh. “John’s the only person I’ve ever known who could look at me in my worst physical and emotional state and think I’m perfect.” Mel”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Still can’t believe you did that to me. I just fucking can’t believe it! Like you didn’t know how much I loved you! Jesus, I gave you everything. Ever think you’d live in a house like the one I built you? Ever think so? I took you out of that dump you were in and put you in a decent place, a place with some class. What did you ever need that I didn’t give you?” And on and on he ranted. While she listened, the first thought that came was that he was so delusional, it was as shocking as frightening. He really believed that a nice house, some material things, could make the abuse tolerable. She”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“In a sudden and desperate move, she grabbed at the handle on the door and furiously tried to open it. She looked around for a lock, pushing on the door at the same time, but it wouldn’t give. She popped the little button on the door next to the window—up and down, up and down, moving the handle, pushing. Nothing. Her upper arm was gripped hard and she turned her watering, terrified eyes toward Wes. He scowled blackly, then his frown dissolved into mean grin. “Jammed, Paige. How stupid do you think I am?” She swallowed hard and asked, “Do you plan to leave our son without a mother?” “Absolutely,” he said with terrifying calm. “But not until I’m sure I’m leaving him without a potential stepfather.” “God,” she whispered weakly. “Why, Wes? John hasn’t done anything to you!” “No?” he asked. “Only took my family away from me. Got my family to turn against me.” “No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, that’s not what happened, Wes. I ran from you.” “Sure you did, Paige. And if it wasn’t for that guy, you’d still be running. Running and running, and I would find you and find you. But what you did—ending it forever and sending me to fucking prison, that was his doing. We both know you don’t have the guts for that.” He turned his head toward her and grinned meanly. “He’ll come after you, you know he will.” I’m bait, she thought. Nothing but bait. “I wouldn’t mind a piece of that other one, either,” he said. “Sheridan.” Something came over Paige. It seemed to rise within her from her core. You don’t have the guts for that.... The thought that this dangerous lunatic would ruthlessly, without conscience, hurt John and his own son sizzled inside her like boiling oil. Her fear slowly gave way to rage. “You’re going to burn in hell,” she whispered. But he couldn’t hear her above the noise of the old pickup. *”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“You’re welcome to come back in a little while and break my heart, mija,” he said. “But right now, let’s go back to town. Let’s grab a cup of coffee and give the lovers another hour together.” “Breaking a few hearts interests me,” she said, putting her hand in his to stand. But when they were both standing, she didn’t pull her hand away. He should have let go and stooped to gather up their blanket, but he didn’t want to release her hand, small and soft but strong in his. He smiled at her. “I think the last time I had this feeling come over me when a girl held my hand, I was thirteen. You’ll be good at it, I think. Breaking hearts.” Still, she didn’t pull away, didn’t break the spell. It was he who finally let go, stooping to close up their basket, pick up the blanket. He handed her the folded blanket. “Thank you for today, Brie.” “It was a nice day,” she said, her smile genuine. “You didn’t seem to have any trouble finding the right word.” And, Mike thought, there are no words for what I’m starting to feel.... *”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“The most delicious thing it’s going to see today is Preacher’s lunch,” she said, but she smiled when she said it. “Thank God,” he said, teasing. “I admit, I was pretty worried. I wondered—if I gave you wine and music and you began to seduce me, how would I—” “Get out of it?” she asked, amused. “Not exactly, mija.” He grinned. “How would I keep Jack from killing me.” “Don’t take this the wrong way, Mike, it’s not personal, but Jack isn’t in charge of what I do. He thinks he is. But he’s not.” “Big brothers,” Mike said. “Very annoying people...”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“I admit I was stupid. Oh, mija, you don’t know what I’d give to start over.” He leaned toward her and said, “If I had a woman like you in my life, I think I would know what I had.” She laughed at him. “Good God, you’re so obvious. You’re coming on to me!” Some habits die so hard, he thought. But he was close enough to smell her sweet perfume and it addled his brain a little bit. “Dios, no! I wouldn’t dare! I’m admiring you, that’s all.” “Well, you can stop admiring me—I’m never getting within a hundred miles of another one of you.” “Another one of—me?” “You’ve been through two wives and a million other women. Not exactly a good résumé, Mike.” He leaned back on his hands and smiled at her. “For a little while, I thought you liked me.” She lifted her eyebrows. “I’m not about to be tricked by a flirtatious man.” He shrugged. “If you are, it will be kept in confidence, Brie,” he said, smiling at her. “This”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Brie, you’re beautiful and brilliant and strong. A man who would cheat on someone like you, just flat-ass doesn’t deserve you.” He reached out and covered her hand with his. “You are too valuable, Brie, to be stuck with a man like that.” She pulled her hand out from under his. “And what did you do to screw up your marriages?” “I was completely irresponsible,” he said. “I knew how to be a lover, not how to love. Men take such a long time to become men, I think. Women have it easier—you at least grow up before you’re old.” “You think you’ve finally grown up, huh?” “Possibly,” he said with a shrug. “Nearly getting killed tends to get your attention.” “What”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“You thinking of messing with my little sister?” he asked. “Because she’s been through a tough time and doesn’t need—” “No, Jack.” He laughed. “I’m not messing with anyone, trust me. But I figured if I kept her busy for a few hours, maybe you could mess with the baby’s mother.” Jack’s eyes narrowed. Mike sipped from his mug. “I’ll keep her out there through nap time,” he said. “Maybe a couple of nap times.” Jack leaned closer to Mike. “You’d better not screw around with my little sister. Remember, I know you and your ways with women, and this is my sister we’re talking about.” Mike laughed. “You think I’m looking to get shot again? Buddy, all that’s in the past. I promise you, I’ll treat Brie as a sister. You have nothing to worry about.” “In the past, huh? And what brought that on?” “Three bullets.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“I might never be really free of him, and I brought this into your life. Insanity and trouble. Maybe even danger. Oh, John... What a bad deal you got with me.” He smiled at her, touched her lips with his. “You can’t believe for one second that’s how I feel. Paige, I don’t care if you have an army of loaded Huns on your tail. The day you and Chris came into my life, that was the biggest miracle of my life. I wouldn’t trade you for anything.” She tightened her arms around him. “Do you know you’re the sweetest man who ever lived?” He laughed at her. “See, that’s the thing. Until you, I was just a fisherman and cook. Look at me now.” He grinned at her. “Now I’m not only the sweetest man alive, I’m like the world’s greatest lover.” That”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain

“Jack threw back the shot and when he brought back his head, his eyes were misting over. “My wife,” he said in a whisper. “You have no idea the strength that took. She was amazing. I watched her face—she went to a place of power I’ve never been. And then, when I handed her the baby, when she put my son against her breast...” He took another swallow. “When she nursed my son, she was in another place—there was such peace and love.... God,” he said. “Yeah,” Preacher said. “That was God.” Preacher opened his arms and gave the man a huge hug, patting his back. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” Jack whispered. Preacher clamped strong hands on Jack’s upper arms, giving him a little shake. “I’m real happy for you, man.”
― Robyn Carr, Shelter Mountain