Free Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henrie Page A

half the soap.
    Caleb chuckled. “Here, let me.”
    He held out his hand for the cup. Twisting her head, Jennie peered at him, uncertainty written on her face.
    “I have four sisters,” he explained. “I observed many hair-washings growing up.”
    She bit her lip, but she finally passed him the cup.
    Caleb scooped some water and poured it over her hair, making sure to cover her ear. She sucked in a sharp breath. From the cold water, no doubt , he thought, as the chilly liquid ran over his hand. When he finished rinsing the suds, he set down the cup and squeezed the excess water from her hair.
    “There you go.” He stepped back. Jennie straightened, visibly shivering now. The sunlight shining against her wet hair and face enhanced her beauty even more. He lifted her blanket off the ground and wrapped it around her shoulders. Their hands met for a second as she grasped the ends of the rough material.
    “Thank you—for washing my hair.”
    “Just consider it one of my ranching duties.”
    She gave a soft laugh. “Good at roping, cattle branding and washing hair? You’re very versatile.”
    He meant to tease her back, but he got caught up staring into her eyes. He noticed for the first time the tiny green specks among the rich brown color. Of its own volition his gaze wandered down to her mouth. What would it be like to kiss a girl again, to feel the feminine softness of those lips?
    The sudden noise of someone pushing through the undergrowth shattered his thoughts. His neck and face went hot, and Caleb hurried to turn away from Jennie. Thank goodness she hadn’t known his thoughts. He could hardly believe them himself. He hadn’t given any girl a second thought romantically since Liza. Surely he wasn’t ready to care for anyone in that way again.
    “Can I go? What did she say?” Will asked as he approached.
    Jennie frowned at Caleb. “Go where?”
    “To church.” Will joined them beside the creek, glancing from one to the other. “Caleb said I could go with him, but I told him to ask you first.”
    “I see.” Her knuckles whitened where they gripped the blanket and she glared at Caleb. “This was your idea?”
    Caleb forced calmness into his voice. “I meant to ask you before Sunday if it would be all right if I went. I offered to take Will when I saw him reading the Bible just now.”
    “Why didn’t you mention this to me?” Jennie turned her glare past him to direct it at her brother.
    Will shuffled his feet and stared down at the dirt. “I knew you wouldn’t like it. But I want to go with Caleb.”
    The crease on Jennie’s brow deepened. “You want to go back, despite the horrible things people said about us and about Ma?”
    Will lifted his chin. “Maybe those people aren’t there anymore. Even if they are, that was a long time ago, Jennie.” He shot a look at Caleb who nodded his agreement. The boy definitely had the makings of a mature young man.
    Jennie exhaled a heavy sigh, her eyes focused on something in the distance before she drew herself up. “I suppose if that’s how you feel, you’re welcome to go on Sunday—both of you.” She yanked the blanket off her shoulders and quickly gathered up her things. “You’ll need to hurry back, no socializing for long afterward.”
    “Sure thing,” Will said.
    “Why don’t you come with us?” Caleb offered. “Your grandmother could come, too.”
    Jennie was shaking her head before he even finished. “I’m not coming. More than one person judged our family and our mother with no real knowledge of the situation.”
    Caleb tried to swallow back the retort that popped into his head, but he couldn’t. “Kind of like you’re judging them now?” he asked in a low voice.
    The air between them went deathly still. Jennie gaped at him for a moment before her face flushed with fury. “I told you he could go. I don’t wish to discuss my church attendance or the absence of it any further, especially with you.” She marched off through the