Lena Grove, a young woman from Alabama, makes her way to Jefferson, Mississippi. Pregnant and alone, Lena relies on the kindness of strangers, hitching rides on numerous wagons during her travels: “Behind her the four weeks, the evocation of far is a peaceful corridor paved with unflagging and tranquil faith and peopled with kind and nameless faces and voices” (5). Lena asks everyone she meets if they know Lucas Burch—the man who got her pregnant. No one knows Lucas, but Lena remains vigilant in her mission to find her unborn child’s father.

Lena reaches a small town and seeks out another wagon. She meets Mr. Armstid, who quickly analyzes her condition: “[He] saw at once that she was young, pregnant, and a stranger” (8). Lena can’t find another wagon to continue toward Jefferson, but Armstid offers her a place to stay. Lena convinces herself, and tries to convince Armstid’s family, that Lucas is waiting for her in Jefferson, where he went to find work. Once he was situated, he was supposed to contact Lena, but he hasn’t reached out in months. Nearing her delivery date now, Lena hopes to find Lucas before she gives birth.

After hearing her story, Mrs.