“I understand why you did what you did. Perhaps a part of me even admires you for it. But I can't forgive you for it.”

“I was proud of you today, handling William Long the way you did." Her fingers stilled. "What did you think of him the first time you met him?" she asked quietly. "That he was the kind of man you should have married." "And now you don't think that anymore?" "Now, it doesn't matter. You're married to me." "I was the night you met him." Jake's eyes met and held hers in the moonlight. "No, you weren't. Not really." His arm tightened around her. "But you are now.”

“You loved her, but you let her marry some other fella? Why’d you do a fool thing like that?” “Because it was best for her.” “How do you know it was best for her?” Houston swiveled his head and captured his brother’s gaze. “What?” Austin shrugged. “What if what you thought was best for her wasn’t what she wanted?” “What are you talking about?” Austin slid his backside across the porch. “I’m not learned in these matters so I don’t understand how you know what you did was best for her.”-Houston and Austin”

“Were you really not frightened?""Sometimes I was terrified, but that was the whole point.""You wanted to be afraid?" She couldn't imagine deliberately putting herself in a position of fear.“I wanted to test my courage, my determination. It was a journey ofdiscovery, but it was more about what I discovered within myself. What Idiscovered about the world was simply a bonus.”“And what did you discover—about yourself, I mean?”“That I’m not nearly as weak as I thought, nor nearly as strong as I’dhoped.”

“Will it fade? The tattoo?”“No.”“Why would you want it on your shoulder like that, something that willforever be there?”“As I recall, I was quite drunk at the time and thought it a good idea.”“Why a dragon?”“Symbolic. We all face dragons in one way or another, at one time oranother.”“So it’s not a good thing.”“Depends whether or not we slay them. It all made perfect sensewhen I was drunk.”“Did you slay yours?”“I thought so at the time.”

“Why did you think my reason for being here had something to do with Frannie?” Luke asked. “Because she’s what we all have in common.” “No, Feagan is what we all have in common.” “But Frannie is the one we all circle around to protect.”

“He pulled her mirror out of his other pocket. “You left your mirror on my table.” He extended it toward her. “You can keep it,” she said quietly. “We have lots of mirrors here.” “I’ll keep it, then.” “Good. I’m glad.” He’d never rushed headlong into a battle, but he figured this time, it might be the best approach. “I spent a lot of time studying it. The back is real pretty with all the gold carving. Took me about an hour to gather up the courage to turn it over and look at the other side.” “And what did you see?” “ Aman who loves you more than life itself.” Closing her eyes, she dropped her chin to her chest. “I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me. I haven’t held your feelings as precious as I should have.” “I don’t hate you,” she whispered hoarsely. “I tried to, but I can’t.”-Houston and Amelia”