Dear Mama: I’ve been in Meadow a year and a month. It isn’t like Hinckley, my pretty little place. I miss you. I miss the straight streets, the trees and gardens. The dry farm acres are brushed and planted now and my hands have almost healed. I won’t work brushing and burning ever again without gloves. I was so foolish. I lost my wedding band in that brush and though Lewis hunted two days, he never found it. Lewis got tired of me crying about it but didn’t say much. He just let me get it out of my system, I guess. We’re still thinking about driving our stock to your fields next summer. I’ll write when we’ve made up our minds. The doctor says I am fine and the baby’s okay too. Thank you, Mama, for letting me come to your home, and mine, in February to have my baby. I shudder, thinking of having my baby without you beside me. Are you well, Mama? How’s Luke doing in college? I’m so glad he got to go. Mama, I love you. I miss our buggy rides and us sleeping together, although sleeping with Lewis isn’t half bad. Love, Ruby