Mrs. Hoge The little old woman who works at the reception desk at the Broken Arrow Motor Lodge, where Taylor and Turtle stay temporarily on their way to Tucson. Mrs. Hoge helps her daughter-in-law, Irene, run the motel. She is kind to Taylor and Turtle, letting them stay in one of the rooms at the motor lodge during the Christmas holidays in return for Taylor's services as a chambermaid. She bickers with Irene and is disappointed because Irene hasn't given her a grandchild. Mrs. Hoge shakes a lot because she has Parkinson's disease.
Irene Mrs. Hoge's daughter-in-law.
Mattie A patient and kind widow who owns Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. An active participant in the Sanctuary movement, she uses her tire shop as a shelter for political refugees from Central America. She hires Taylor to work in her tire shop and becomes her friend.
Sandi Sandi works at Burger Derby, where Taylor works briefly. She has a son named Seattle (after a racehorse named Seattle Slew). She loves horses and befriends Taylor when she learns that Taylor is from Kentucky. (Sandi thinks that everyone who lives in Kentucky has horses.)
Jessie A homeless woman who takes leftover fruit and melon rinds from area coffee shops under the pretense that she needs them to paint still-lifes.
Timothy, Fei, and La-Isha The people who put an ad in the newspaper for a roommate, which Taylor answers. They are vegetarians and participate in the New Age movement, drawing energy from cosmic sources.
Lou Ann Ruiz Taylor's roommate and friend. She is separated from her husband and is raising their son alone. She is from Kentucky, and when Taylor answers her ad for a roommate, they become fast friends, and eventually family. Lou Ann is frightened of everything, is insecure, and has low self-esteem. With Taylor's encouragement and example, Lou Ann becomes more self-confident and self-directed.
