Free Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henrie

Will.
    Will studied him a moment before reaching for the book. He plunked it into Caleb’s outstretched hand. Caleb cocked an eyebrow when he saw it was the Bible.
    “Is there a reason you’re hiding it?”
    “Maybe.”
    Caleb feigned a thoughtful nod as he handed back the book. “I guess you never know when those nonbeliever cows might demand you hand it over or they’ll rough you up.”
    A smile replaced the frown on Will’s face, then faded just as quickly. “I’m not worried about the cows.” Setting the Bible on the grass, he ripped up a blade and twisted it between his fingers. “It’s just that Jennie doesn’t take too kindly to anything that smacks of religion.”
    “And that’s the problem?”
    Will nodded. “She won’t go to church ’cause of stuff people said about our ma after she left us, but I’d like to go. Not just for the preaching, either.” He broke the piece of grass in two and tossed them both aside. “I had to quit going to school after Pa died. So it’d be nice to be around people my own age again.”
    “I think that’s real commendable,” Caleb said, taking a seat on the ground. He admired Will’s honest heart. “I don’t know if I appreciated going when I was younger. Now, though, I realize how much I need it. It helps me be a better person.” He studied Will’s lowered head. “Maybe if you told Jennie it would help you meet new friends and be a better brother, she might let you go.”
    “Or she might just be mad at me for wanting the day off.”
    Caleb chuckled. “I don’t think your sister’s as hard-hearted as that. Tell you what. I was going to ask her for some time off this Sunday to go to church myself. Why don’t you come with me?”
    “Really?” Will grinned, then he coughed and a look of nonchalance replaced his excited one. “I mean, that would be nice. If you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all.”
    “So you’ll ask for both of us?”
    “Wait. What?” How’d the boy rope him into that arrangement?
    “She’s likely to tell me no but not you.”
    Caleb blew out his breath. He didn’t want to ruffle Jennie’s feathers by sticking his nose places it didn’t belong. He needed this job. But Will looked so hopeful.
    “All right,” Caleb said, rising again to his feet. “I’ll go talk to her, but you owe me some lousy ranch task in exchange.”
    “Deal.”
    Caleb put on his hat. “Where can I find her?”
    “Since Dandy’s still tethered here, she didn’t go for a ride. I’d try the creek first.” Will pointed southeast.
    Caleb headed in that direction. He made his way around some scrub trees and found the creek, a greenish brown flow of water. He couldn’t see Jennie, but he heard her soft humming from farther upstream.
    He trudged along the bank, following the sound of her tune, before he caught a glimpse of her. She stood bent over, a cup in her hand. She appeared to be rinsing soap from her hair. The red color resembled wet copper, but it was the peaceful expression on her face that made him pause. No worry sharpened her face; no stubbornness tightened her full lips.
    She really is beautiful, when she lets herself relax.
    Clearing his throat, he circled a bush blocking his path and stepped into the open. He might as well have fired one of his guns. Jennie jumped, her hair spraying water in all directions, and drew her pistol from its holster near her feet.
    “Oh, it’s you.” She lowered the gun aimed at his chest. “Did Will tell you where to find me?”
    “He said you might be here,” Caleb said, walking to the water’s edge.
    Jennie stuck the pistol back in the holster and wrung out her hair. Rivulets ran into the dirt at their feet. “I’m almost done.”
    “I think you could use a second rinse.” He wiped at some suds above her left ear.
    Her face turned pink. “Oh, right.” She bent and picked up her cup and filled it with water from the creek. After flipping her hair over again, she resumed rinsing, but she still missed