Ranch Life Quotes

“Good grief,” he muttered. “Good thing this bed ain’t any bigger, or next thing a guy knows, you’ll be bringing in Betsy-Lou to bunk with us too!”
― Wayne Edwards, A Stone's Throw: A heartwarming story of a city girl and her rancher grandfather turning adversity into love and community

“Sometimes the smallest distance between two people is the hardest to cross.”
― Wayne Edwards, A Stone's Throw: A heartwarming story of a city girl and her rancher grandfather turning adversity into love and community

“I was scared to death of these chickens, but I tried not to let Ira know that.”
― Wayne Edwards, A Stone's Throw: A heartwarming story of a city girl and her rancher grandfather turning adversity into love and community

“The tree burst into color and we all gasped at the red, yellow, green, white and the blue lights boldly growing in the cold night, the only lights for miles around in the inmense darkness of the range.”
― Jeannette Walls, Half Broke Horses

“That’s right,” she said firmly. “I’ll be joining you for the round-up.”
Joe stared at her for a moment, perplexed, then huffed a snort.
“Oh no, you won’t! Women have no business there! You can watch when we’re brandin’ the calves and cuttin’ the young bulls after the roundup, but you’re definitely not comin’ along.” His tone was sharp and decisive.
Katherine clasped her hands in her lap with studied casualness. Reluctance stirred within her, yet she had, of course, been prepared for pushback.
“Well, I’m well aware of how demanding and arduous it will be,” she admitted calmly, “but as I am the proprietor of this ranch, I shall most certainly take part in all the roundups from now on.”
Joe kept his gaze locked on her as he slowly moved closer, his posture intimidating. His glare brought back uncomfortable memories of the day he had thrown her into the horse trough.
“And as the one in charge of the whole fuckin’ shebang,” he said pointedly, “I’m tellin’ ya to stay!”
She jutted out her chin in defiance. “That’s not your decision to make, Joe.”
Glowering down at her, he stopped in front of the armchair. Then he suddenly bent over and slammed his fist onto the armrest. Katherine felt the impact reverberate through the entire chair as she shrank back against the backrest with shock.
“Yes, it is, Kate,” he snarled, anger and discontent etched into his hard features as he braced his hands on the armrests. “And I won’t have it. You’re stayin’!”
She saw the muscles in his jaw twitch as he gritted his teeth. Alarming memories washed over her—of Danny standing bent over her the day before the fall roundup, just as Joe was now.
And now, as then, she felt trapped.
But she could not allow herself to show any weakness. She had to stand up to him without wavering.
After all, did he really think he had authority over her?
“You can forbid your wife to come along, but as sure as rain, you won’t forbid me,” she managed to retort in a tone of reprimand. “I have every right to it.”
Joe’s dark eyes narrowed on her, boring into hers.
“Dammit, woman, are you so desperate to tempt fate, huh? Roundin’ up cattle is dangerous business! Hundreds of agitated beeves are runnin’ all over the place, rammin’ their fuckin’ horns into your thighs, raisin’ up tons of dust so ya can hardly see a hand in front of your face. If your horse throws ya, you’ll be trampled to death in a flash.” His face drew so close that she could feel his warm breath on her skin. “I ain’t takin’ ya along, Kate! No chance! ’Tis far too unsafe. You ain’t goin’, and that’s final.”
All of a sudden, anger blazed through her like a wildfire. She fought to keep her composure, every nerve on edge, but she was so furious she could have struck him.
How did he dare talk to her like that?
She didn’t need his stupid permission to go! The ranch was hers. The cattle were hers. No man had the right to forbid her anything! Those days were over—once and for all!
“You can’t make me stay and you sure won’t,” she bit out, her hands balling into fists.
His expression grew even harder and darker. “Trust me, Kate, I can. And if I have to rope ya like a fuckin’ calf, tie ya to your bed, and board up your door, I’ll do it. You’d better not tempt me!”
― Melanie Nova, The Avant-gardiste: Breaking Barriers

“Whatever the reason for their choices, too many country men saw the best years of their
lives melt with the ice cubes in the bottom of an empty whiskey glass.”
― Mark E. Miller

“Whatever the reason for their choices, too many country men saw the best years of their lives
melt with the ice cubes in the bottom of an empty whiskey glass.”
― Mark E. Miller

“Whatever the reason for their choices, too many country men saw the best years of their lives melt with the ice cubes in the bottom of an empty whiskey glass.”
― Mark E. Miller

“Whatever the reason for their choices, too many country men saw the best years of their lives melt with the ice cubes in the bottom of an empty whiskey glass.”
― Mark E. Miller, A Sometimes Paradise: Reflections on Life in a Wyoming Ranch Family

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.”
—Mark Twain”
― Brenda Ethridge Ferguson, Ranch Girl and a Boy Named Toby

“She stood there in yoga pants that probably cost more than his saddle, pristine white tennis shoes, and what appeared to be a silk blouse in a shade of pink that would send his bulls running. Her golden hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she'd even put on makeup. At five in the morning. For ranch work.”
― Kirk Voclain, Boots and Stilettos

“The first love is never forgotten.”
― Elizabeth Holleyman, The Twenty Year Kiss