Beautiful Bad Man Quotes

“What she'd done was give him a glimpse of something that scared the bejesus out of him, something never meant for men like him that could start a hunger that would eat away what little was left inside him that didn't need to be shoved into the dark place.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“That was a boy’s love for a dream he didn’t think would ever come true. What I feel for you is a man’s love for a woman, a wife.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“He parked the wagon beside the church and left Norah there with Early and orders to stay, no matter what she heard. He had more faith in Early obeying — he tied the dog to the wagon.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“That doesn’t make sense. It’s not possible.” He paused and eyed her thoughtfully. “You said ‘very good husband’ the first time.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“I’m not running,” he growled. “I’m making myself unavailable,”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Even if you met him once long ago, it’s no excuse. He’s one of Mr. Van Cleve’s men.” “He quit. He quit almost two months ago, and it was because of me.” “He’s a bad one.” “Oh, Mabel, yes, he is. He’s a very bad man, but he’s a beautiful bad man.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Getting married was all too easy. In Cal’s opinion something that life-changing ought to take longer and present a lot more difficulty.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“You know how you told me I was doing so well? I think the more I do, the more she decides I can do, but at least I’m working for my second ten dollars now.” “How many goats will that buy?”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Tonight the worst danger in town was at her side, on her side, and she was safe. How long had it been since she’d felt like this, female, protected, almost floating with it? She couldn’t remember.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“...she was honest enough to admit she married him because actions other men would not conceive of to start with or carry out to finish with were ordinary for [him]... not that she ever wanted or needed a husband who would steal without compunction, but she wanted that toughness, that hard eyed indifference to what anyone else thought, to - danger.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“You said, ‘I love this baby too,’ and I figured out I’m the too.” “Aren’t you clever.” “I am. I love you too, you know.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Do you really think there’s a chance he repented at the end there?” Jason said finally. “Not a one.” “Me either. The preacher in town says I need to forgive him.” “Why? The preachers are the ones who say there’s a hell, and if there is, he’s in it. If God won’t forgive him, why should we?”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Caleb, when we got married, what kind of husband did you think you’d be?” “Rotten. I knew I’d make you miserable.” “I’m not miserable. Except for the trouble Van Cleve’s caused, I’m happy. You’re a very good husband.” At least that stopped the wriggling around. “I can’t be. You only just promoted me from evil to very bad.” “You’re a very bad man, but you’re a good husband.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Norah fussed over a little damage to a door and sleeping free in a store. She threw a fit over salvaging an abandoned plow. She trusted the law so much she’d been willing to risk Cal’s neck to the sheriff in Fischer. So what did it mean when a woman like that gave every sign of being willing to shoot a man in the back rather than let Ludlow arrest her husband for something she knew full well he did?”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“When she outlined his lips with a forefinger, he drew the tip into his mouth, nibbled gently. “You’re beautiful.” “Don’t spoil it by lying,” she begged. “We both know pretty is the best I can do.” He shook his head. “Pretty is when your hair is pinned up, and your collar is buttoned up. Pretty is for those times. Beautiful is for times like this, good times, wild times, sharing secrets times.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Cal decided he would push those girls out of the wagon if he had to, and maybe he’d leave Norah here too.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“I killed their father. You’ve barely promoted me from evil to very bad. Jason is good. He’s as close to a saint as people get. We’re taking them to him.” “But....” “Didn’t you promise to obey?” Hell. A wagon trip with a baby, two young girls, a milk cow, and an angry, not-speaking wife.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Around Norah, the calculated indifference he’d felt toward women all his life disappeared. She provoked temper and impatience and desires that had the ghosts howling with glee. He shoved them back down in the dark place they’d escaped from.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“She gave him a sleepy smile that took his breath away. “Good morning.” Keeping control of the situation around her might turn into a full time job.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Give me what you’ve got, and I’ll pay the difference. Keep twenty for yourself and sew it in your foundations for emergencies.” “What emergencies?” she asked suspiciously, digging out all her lovely money and handing over everything except one pretty gold piece. “If I knew that, they wouldn’t be emergencies.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“What are we going to do with all that?” she asked as they drove away. “Feed horses.” “I’m not getting a good feeling about your business sense.” “If I can’t make a living farming, I’ll go back to killing people. It’s easier anyway.” She had nothing more to say to him after that.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“We’re only going to the boarding house long enough to make that woman give you back most of your money. There are better places to spend the night, and we’ve got a lot to do before then.” “I’m not spending the night in a saloon.” “Didn’t you just promise to obey?” She gave him the first of what he knew would be many unhappy looks. Chapter 11 “IT IS A BOARDING house, not a hotel,” Norah said, as she hurried down the street after Caleb.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“All right,” he said. “How do we get married?” She crossed her arms and tipped her head at him, “Are you sure? If you marry me you can’t have someone else later, you know.” “I know.” “Are you sure you don’t want someone younger? Some beautiful young blonde?” “Now who has cold feet? If you’ve come to your senses, say so.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“The only kind of marriage I want is a real one,” Norah said, amazed at the strange words that kept coming out of her mouth.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“You don’t want me around good people.” “What does that say about me?” “You lose your way now and then.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“And you, Caleb Sutton? Are you just made a certain way? Couldn’t you live some other way?” “I don’t want to live another way. Look around you. Everyone you see is either predator or prey, wolf or rabbit. Wolf is better.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“We cleared the air. We were bound to disappoint each other after all these years.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“Another compliment. He made her want to take her knife to him.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“What’s the matter with you? Are you deaf? I don’t want that wood. Go away.” “I wish I could. The trouble is I owe you, and we’re both stuck dealing with it.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man

“All she wanted was to see Joey again, hold him, hear him laugh, and for that to happen, her death couldn’t be her own fault. If God ruled that she had caused her own death by not trying hard enough.... Well, that wasn’t going to happen, so the buffalo robe would have to stay.”
― Ellen O'Connell, Beautiful Bad Man