Outlaw Mountain Quotes

“Not at all. Because my intentions are honorable, you see. Completely. What about yours?” “Mine?” Joanna stammered stupidly. “Yes, yours,” Butch said. “We can either go on having what they call a totally meaningless relationship—which, I have to tell you, isn’t half bad. Or we can get married. If you’ll have me, that is.” “Wait a minute. You’re asking me to marry you?” Joanna returned. “On the telephone?” “Well, I admit it’s not the best possible arrangement. But it seems like I’d better do it now. Otherwise, your mother will do it for me.” “Butch. I don’t know what to say.” On the other end of the phone, Joanna heard a doorbell chime. “Say yes,” he urged. “But you promised. You told me you wouldn’t push.” “That was before your mother rang my doorbell. So, will you or won’t you?” The doorbell chimed again. “Well?” he pressed. Joanna took a deep breath. “Yes, dammit. All right. I will.” “Good answer. Good answer,” Butch said. “Now I’ve gotta run and answer the door. Otherwise Junior will beat me to that.” Butch Dixon hung up then. Twenty miles away, across the San Pedro Valley, Joanna Brady stared at her cell phone in stunned silence.”
― J.A. Jance, Outlaw Mountain

“Not so very long ago, Joanna Brady herself had been on the receiving end of a next-of-kin notification. She knew how much that kind of news hurt—knew that it tore people apart from the inside out. Not only that, her own wounds were still fresh enough that there was no way for her to distance herself from other people’s hurt. Those were her private concerns, but she was careful not to make them part of her voiced objection.”
― J.A. Jance, Outlaw Mountain