Quotes from Alexandra Ripley

Put me down and I'll show you," said Scarlett. Rhett lowered her to her feet. His big hands closed on her shoulders, and he pulled her to him impatiently, then kissed her, briefly, firmly, and let her go. "I'd hate to be shot without getting what I came for," he said. She could hear the laughter in his voice. "Now, Scarlett, get us out of here.

Do you not see that love feeds without gluttony on itself, that love is an ever-brimming cup, from which drinking fills again and still more.

Rhett was watching the race through field glasses. Even ten feet away she could smell the whiskey on him. He was rocking on his feet. Drunk? Not Rhett. He could always hold his liquor. Had Bart's disaster upset him that much?

she'd realized—too late—that the habit of loving him had long since replaced love itself.

When things are at their worst, Scarlett, the only thing to do is find something to laugh about. It keeps you sane… and it stops your teeth chattering from fear.

I won't risk it again. I won't destroy myself for you

It eased the pain some when she thought about the way he'd treated her and hatred burned away the hurt.

Happy is the best way to be because then you can let other people be happy, too. Their own way.

I guess I let things get me down as far as a person can go, she thought with disgust, and her own scorn warmed her. I won't let it happen again, ever, no matter what comes. Once you get down all the way, the road can only go up.

Every baby's the only in my observation of mothers.

That Billy was her only child was testimony to death of the romance.

What gives people whose whole life is a lie the right to judge me?

Don't worry about me. I'm going to learn to be happy.

But you know who you are when you're on your own out there in all that emptiness. There's no past, no holding on to the scraps that are all you've got left. Everything is this minute, or maybe tomorrow, not yesterday.

Why don't you put on an animal's pelt and drag me to your house by my hair?

During that year Scarlett had been so busy, had experienced such changes in her life, that she'd been able to block out the pain he had caused her. Now it tore her heart, and with the pain was a deep fear of Rhett's unpredictable power. She transformed them into rage. Rage was strengthening.

Scarlett O'Hara did the most courageous thing she had ever been called on to do. She faced up to failure.

If only" could break your heart.

Should-haves solve nothing. It's the next thing to happen that needs thinking about

I don't understand," she admitted at last. "You were trying to kill each other fifteen years ago, and you're friends now. Don't you even argue about the North and the South and who was right?" "Johnny Reb" laughed. "What's it to a soldier the right and the wrong of it all? He's there for the fighting, that's what he likes. Doesn't matter who you're fighting, long as he gives you a good fight.

Hello, Rhett," she said. His head snapped, and she saw his dark eyes. They held nothing for her, nothing but anger. "Why hello, Countess." His eyes raked her from her kidskin boots to her egret-plumed hat. "You are certainly looking—expensive." He turned abruptly towards John Morland. "You should have warned me, Bart, so I could stay in the bar. Let me by." And he sent Morland staggering as he pushed out of the box on the side away from Scarlett.

Johnny Reb' laughed. 'What's it to a soldier the right and the wrong of it all? He's there for the fighting, that's what he likes. Doesn't matter who you're fighting, long as he gives you a good fight.

Rhett trapped her wrists in a circle of his fingers. "I love you, you abusive wench." His expression hardened. "And I'll kill that bastard Fenton if he tries to take you from me.

Scarlett laughed aloud without knowing it. It was a child's laughter, free and unconsidered, expressing pure joyful surprise. "Oh, look!" she said. "Oh, look!" She was so enraptured that she was unaware of Rhett's eyes watching her, instead of the horses.