Duena Alfonsa The great aunt to Alejandra who lives at La Purisima and who loved Gustave Madero, one of the martyrs of the Mexican Revolution. She was the victim of a shooting accident when she was young and is missing two fingers on one hand. She plays chess with John Grady and is informative about the Revolution and other ideas. But she is very unbending and will not help John Grady win the right to be a part of Alejandra's life. She has decided what will be best and she, apparently, wields the power in the family. She does save John Grady's life, in exchange for the promise from Alejandra that she, Alejandra, will never see him again. She is an intelligent woman, with no sympathy.
Grandfather Grady Never alive in the novel, he died too soon to pass the ranch on to his grandson. It is his funeral scene that begins the novel. A kind man who never let anyone speak ill of his daughter (John Grady's mother) and who refused to have a funeral until dog tags at least came home. "He never gave up," John Grady recounts to Cole.
Cole The father of John Grady, a World War II veteran who was a prisoner of war. His marriage to John Grady's mother has failed. He has made money in the oil fields and at gambling, but he makes no attempt to buy the ranch or resist his wife's divorce papers. He takes long horse rides with John Grady and tries to give him advice.
Mother Never given a name, the mother of John Grady left him in the care of the Mexican women at the ranch and went to Los Angeles when he was a baby. She is now pursuing an acting career in San Antonio, has a young lover, and refuses to even lease the ranch to John Grady. She wants to sell it and take the money.
Redbo and Junior The horses of John Grady and Rawlins, respectively; the two boys' best friends. After surviving the Mexican adventure, Junior ends up at home with Rawlins and Redbo with John Grady and the big bay heading west.
Mary Catherine John Grady's girlfriend in San Angelo, Texas, who, at the start of the novel, has left him for another man.
Franklin The lawyer John Grady consults in San Angelo about his parents' divorce and the ownership of the family ranch.
