How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Billy Buck sat down on the steps, because he was a cow-hand, and it wouldn't be fitting that he should go first into the dining-room. (1.1)
Right off the bat we understand that Billy is an outsider to the family and there are certain unwritten rules he must obey. Carl Tiflin runs a tight ship and Billy respects his law and order.
Quote #2
His father was a disciplinarian. Jody obeyed him in everything without questions of any kind. (1.7)
Carl's kind of old school, huh? These days, we might think of him as too gruff and distant, but back then, this is probably the only way he knows how to be a dad.
Quote #3
Back at the house his mother bent over his rough hands, inspecting his fingers and nails. It did little good to start him clean to school for too many things could happen on the way. She sighed over the black cracks on his fingers, and then gave him his books and his lunch and started him on the mile walk to school. (1.16)
What's a mother to do? Mrs. Tiflin isn't much of the motherly type in that she doesn't fawn over Jody or smother him with kisses and affection. But she does what she can with their less-than-clean surroundings.
Quote #4
When the door was closed behind him, Jody heard his father and Billy Buck chuckling and he knew it was a joke of some kind. And later, when he lay in bed, trying to make words out of the murmurs in the other room, he heard his father protest, "But, Ruth, I didn't give much for him." (1.27)
Jody doesn't hear his parents argue often and when he does in this scene, it is from behind his closed bedroom door. They are disagreeing about something and Jody can only assume it has something to do with him. In fact, they are discussing a new red pony that Carl has bought for the boy. But as of this moment, Jody has no idea what the men's laughter and his parents' disagreement could be about. All families have secrets.
Quote #5
Jody sat with his chin in his hands; his mouth worked nervously, and his father gradually became aware that he wasn't listening very carefully. "Isn't that funny?" he asked.
Jody laughed politely and said, "Yes, sir." His father was angry and hurt, then. He didn't tell any more stories. (1.142-1.143)
Awkward. In a completely out-of-character moment, Carl is trying to cheer up his son with some funny stories. And let's just say, this is not Carl's strong suit. Plus, Jody's feeling mopey right now, and doesn't want to be bothered, thank you very much. But hey, at least Carl tried. It's a rare moment of fatherly affection from the guy.
Quote #6
The Saturday dragged on. Late in the afternoon Jody went to the house and brought his bedding down and made up a place to sleep in the hay. He didn't ask permission. He knew from the way his mother looked at him that she would let him do almost anything. (1.160)
Mrs. Tiflin may have her rules about hand washing and chores, but she knows when to bend 'em a bit. And in this case, it's clear her heart is going out to her son. Unfortunately there's just not much she can do for the kid. Jody knows it, too.
Quote #7
Jody knew how his father was probing for a place to hurt in Gitano. He had been probed often. His father knew every place in the boy where a word could fester. (2.109)
Although we're betting they don't have a lot of heart-to-hearts, it's clear that Jody knows his dad really well—faults and all.
Quote #8
"Nobody can tell you anything. Like my old man did with me about the saddle blanket. He was a government packer when I was your size, and I helped him some. One day I left a wrinkle in my saddle blanket and made a saddle-sore. My old man didn't give me hell at all. But the next morning he saddled me up with a forty-pound stock saddle. I had to lead my horse and carry that saddle over a whole damn mountain in the sun. It darn near killed me, but I never left no wrinkles in a blanket again." (3.116)
Billy Buck's dad passed on some sage wisdom: no matter how much you tell a person what to do, they won't learn their lesson until they learn by doing. Maybe that's why Carl doesn't do much to explain things to Jody. He figures that the kid will suss it out on his own and learn from his own mistakes.
Quote #9
Carl Tiflin came to the barn with Jody one day. He looked admiringly at the groomed bay coat, and he felt the firm flesh over ribs and shoulders. "You've done a good job," he said to Jody. And this was the greatest praise he knew how to give. Jody was bright with pride for hours afterward. (3.128)
Jody probably wants to hold on to this feeling for as long as he can, because it's unlikely Carl's going to be showering him with praise again anytime soon.
Quote #10
On the night of the second of February, he awakened crying. His mother called to him, "Jody, you're dreaming. Wake up and start over again." (3.134)
Here's the thing. Ruth doesn't come running into her boy's room when it's clear he's having a nightmare. She just shouts some sort of encouraging words from the comfort of her own bed. It's not exactly the tenderest mothering we've ever seen.