In a small town in what appears to be the Old West, most people fear the Outlaw, for good reason. Eventually, much to the townspeople’s relief, the Outlaw stops coming to town. Years later, a stranger comes to town. The man quietly lends a hand wherever he can, building and repairing structures, until one day he is recognized as the Outlaw. A crowd gathers; people kick dirt and spit at his feet. A boy defends him, saying that he is “trying,” and the crowd slowly disperses. Although some people are moved by the boy’s words, others are still angry, but the Outlaw continues “to make amends.” Illustrations on previous pages show the same boy caught stealing food; the Outlaw appears to take him under his wing. This simple narrative about the complexity of forgiveness and reconciliation is illustrated with watercolor and ink in a muted, gray palette. Newsprint transfer and scraps of 19th-century fabric patterns add further visual details to this highly discussable story. (Ages 4–8)