Montana 1948 Quotes

But all of north-eastern Montana is hard country-the land

is dry and sparse and the wind never stops blowing (15).

My mother said, Its around town more than you realize. I dont want
this getting back to my father. That was what my father believed
in. If he could not sufficiently fear, love, trust, obey, and
honour Godas we were told in catechism class we mustit was
because he had nothing left for his heavenly father after
declaring absolute fealty to his earthly one (53).

His [Frank] medical bag was on the table too, and seeing it
there where we ate our meals I realized how large it was, how if
its black mouth opened, it could swallow all the light in the room
(87).

Did you ride today Davy? I nodded.
Did you ride far? I nodded again. And did you see a coyote? How did
she know I was given a pistol for hunting coyotes?
No, I said, but I was looking.
Hes hard to see when you look for him.

"She's an Indian-why should she tell the truth?" (p.46)

"Frank said maybe he'd do a little dance around the bed. And if that
doesn't work he'll try beating some drums." (p.35)

"What the hell am I supposed to think? Screwing an Indian. Or feeling
her up or whatever. You don't lock up a man for that..." (p. 119-120)

"I don't care. I tell you, if you could hear him talk. As if he had no
concern for what he did than if...if he had kicked a dog. No. He'd show
more remorse over a dog." (p.150)

"He wears those and soon he'll be as flat-footed and lazy as an Indian."
(p.34)

"I find history endlessly amusing, knowing, as I do, that the record of
any human community might omit stories of sexual abuse, murder,
suicide...Who knows-perhaps any region's most dramatic, most
sensational, stories were not played out in the public view but were
confined to small, private places."


I was a Hayden. I knew, from the time I was very young and without
having been told, that that meant something in Mercer County.

Hes guilty as sin, Gail. He told me as muchMaybe a jury will
cut him loose. I wont. By God, I wontI cant let him loose. Not
and live with myself. (149-150).