Free For Love and Honor by Cathy Maxwell, Lynne Hinton, Candis Terry Page A

however, since I know you’re trying to think on more pleasant matters, I’ll try to think of some news to write to you other than how I miss getting my mail and paper at the same time and how the Forest Ranger over at the El Malpais Recreation Area keeps hard liquor in his truck. I saw the bottle for myself when it rolled out from under the driver’s seat when he came into town for lunch.
    Things in Pie Town haven’t changed much since you left for the army. My daughter, Malene, remarried her first husband, Roger, which doesn’t make a bit of sense to me. I never understood why they divorced in the first place and then why they would ever bother to go back through the trouble of marrying up again. But that’s their concern.
    The church was rebuilt after the fire and though I’m still mad about changing the time of Saturday Mass, I did help put up a few walls, filled in the sidewalk with cement, and helped Bernie King level the parking lot. It was, after all, what Alex wanted for the town and Lord knows, I did anything for that great-grandson of mine when he was living and wasn’t about to stop after he died. He wanted that church rebuilt more than anything and no matter what I thought about the church and that new priest I couldn’t see his pleasures denied. I still miss him as much as I miss my beloved Alice, but that’s not anything to write to you about.
    My Buick’s running good. Got it a few months ago and I think the trunk is even bigger than last year’s model. Frank just tuned it up and rotated the tires and I don’t mean to talk bad about your father but he charged me way more than they would have at the dealer in Albuquerque. I try to be neighborly and give him my business but you wouldn’t even know he notices my generosity by the amounts he charges. Maybe when you get home you can man the office and talk him into coming down on his pricing.
    Trina does well at the garage. In the little bit of time she’s been working there, she’s learned a lot about engines and such. She can change a timing belt, flush out a radiator, switch out the brakes and replace the muffler without any help from Frank. You’ve picked a fine mate in her, I tell you. I don’t know if she can cook but I guarantee you this much, you’ll never have to pay for another oil change. She’s swift and hardworking and I think she’s quite sweet on you, talks about you every time I see you, seems to care a great deal about what happens to you. That counts for a lot, let me tell you. I miss Alice, my wife, more than anything because I always knew she loved me, cared for me. It’s the most tender part of life, having a companion, so I’m happy you and Trina found each other.
    We still got a lot of winter left and the weatherman said we’ll get more snow this weekend. I’m thinking about asking Frank to put chains on my tires but Malene keeps telling me I got nowhere to go anyway. But just let there be some emergency around here and my Buick will be the only car up and running in this whole county. Roger’s squad car is so old I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t go on some sheriff’s call and have to be towed out. I keep telling him he needs a new vehicle but he claims the county can’t afford it. Maybe now that I’m writing this to you, I will have gotten the hang of letter writing and I’ll ask him if he wants me to write to the state and request more funds for the sheriff’s department.
    Well, that’s about all I can think of to tell you right now. I suppose if Miss Dubois was grading, she’d probably say I needed to spend a little more time on my spelling and grammar. I reckon I’ll just take my chances with what I got and hope you’ll overlook the errors.
    We’re proud of you, Raymond, for signing up in the army when there was a war going on, for fighting for these United States of America, helping us keep our many freedoms, showing honor and bravery in your service on the battlefield. You know my Lawrence has