“I'd never have gotten this far without you," I said.Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new position under my ribs. I closed the door fast before I could say something really stupid.”

“Mama took me in her arms and held me tight. Her embrace was hot and she smelled like sweat, dust, and grease, but I wanted her. I wanted to crawl inside her mind to find that place that let her smile and sing through the worst dust storms. If I had to be crazy, I wanted my mama's kind of crazy, because she was never afraid.”

“They were beautiful beyond words, beautiful beyond understanding. So beautiful, I wanted to tear out my heart and hand it over, because after seeing them, I surely wouldn't have any more use for it.”

“There was a lot under those words. I'd go digging for it later.”

“Sometimes it's not good for people to find out who you really are.”

“I'd been right about Jack Holland. He had the kind of face that could make you believe.”

“I thought maybe I could just get away from everything. But you can't get away from a thing that's your own fault.”