“Before reaching Grassy Butte, though, Dad spied a farmhouse with two pumps in the drive and a red-and-white sign out front saying DALE'S OIL COMPANY. Another sign said CLOSED, but a light was on in the house and Dad pulled in, saying, "I believe we might prevail on Dale. What do you think?""Prevail on Dale," I repeated to Swede."To make a sale," she added."And if we fail, we'll whale on Dale--""Till he needs braille!""Will you guys desist?" Dad asked.”

“Dale: "No, no--curse it, Beka, you're the prickliest woman I've ever met!" Goodwin: "No, I am. But she comes very close, I have to say." — Dale Rowan and Clara Goodwin when Beka didn't want to accept money for being Dale's "luck”

“I don’t believe in skipping ahead Dale. I read the book all the way through.”

“Truax had another marshmallow poised to go into his open mouth, but he froze after hearing Dale’s outburst. “I don’t think I like your attitude, Dale. Everyone is addicted to something. Drugs, power, sex. Might as well be to something wholesome, like these little sweet white puffs, made from 100% all natural unicorn poop.” “That’s not where marshmallows come from.” Truax grabbed Dale by the shirt and pulled him against the cell bars. “Yes it is, damn you!” “Okay, okay! Marshmallows are unicorn poop!”

“Dale's family is like that. Let the Law come within twenty yards of them, and every male over the age of six--uncles, brother, father, cousins--starts lying his fool head off. Dale says it's genetic. Miss Lana says that's poppycock.”

“Dammit," Dale cussed. "I was kinda hoping Congress got ate.”