When thirteen-year-old Ainsley Grant visits her grandfather after the death of her grandmother, she hears more about the exploits of her not-so-famous ancestor, the Revolutionary War hero Jack Jouett, whose daring midnight ride saved Thomas Jefferson from hanging at the hands of the British. But when she sees Jack on his ride in the middle of the night, she holds the fate of history in her hands. A wild, rollicking adventure full of humor, drama, and action, Nan Coleman's debut is a fantastic tale that is as educational as it is entertaining. In 1781, right before the Battle of Yorktown, British General Cornwallis sends his second in command, the evil Banastre Tarleton, to Charlottesville, Virginia to kidnap senator and future president Thomas Jefferson in hopes of hanging him and ending the war in order to keep America under the jurisdiction of England. Unbeknownst to the British, however, Jefferson is dining with Patrick Henry and Benjamin Harrison at his Monticello home this night. A chance encounter with the Tarleton and his troops leads Jack Jouett to jump on his horse Sallie in the middle of the night, riding over forty miles on Indian trails through dense forest and across a river to reach Monticello before dawn and warn Jefferson in time for him to make his escape. In 2011, Ainsley Grant is visiting her grandfather not far from Charlottesville and once again is listening to the exploits of her distant relative, Jack Jouett. Intrigued, she decides to see his path through the woods and across the river-albeit at three in the morning, when Jack rode through. Shadows move and contort in the creepy night, around the shells of long-forgotten buildings and strangely shaped trees. But she gets the shock of her life when she suddenly sees Jack, and their chance encounter may very well change the course of history. More fun than a trip to any museum, A Gift of Two Silver Pistols will captivate your inner adventurer as it takes you on the wildest ride of your life!
About the Author: Nan Coleman graduated from Boston University with a bachelor of arts in political science. She is self-employed in sales and marketing, a history buff, and a ghost hunter. She currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and three children.