Calamity Jane was born in 1852 and remains a household name for her skill as a sharpshooter, muleskinner, midwife, gambler, and horseback scout. Her real name was Martha Jane Canary, and she died a pauper in 1903 even though she herself would give the shirt off her back to the needy or sick. She also wouldn’t think twice about shooting the hat off any man who disrespected her!

This excerpt is from The Book of Awesome Women by Becca Anderson, which is available now through Amazon and Mango Media.