Page 20 of In Her Sights

"I have something for you." Tessa stepped around her dress to collect the mahogany case at the top of her wardrobe.

"The pistol? I thought you changed your mind about passing it on."

Tessa turned and set the gun case on her bed, careful not to place it too close to the veil. "No. It's never been mine to keep. But after all that happened the day of the robbery, I thought it might be best for me to hold on to it until our wedding day. Now that we are tying the knot, it's time for the pistol to find a new home."

Hopefully, it would give another young woman the courage to believe in the possibility of love.

She opened the case and handed Laura the chain that held the brass key. "I added a note to the letter like you suggested." She pulled the folded parchment from the pocket and passed it to Laura to read. "Do you think that will convince your cousin to accept the gift?"

After slipping the chain over her head, Laura unfolded the paper and read aloud the postscript Tessa had added. "'A gift from the great Annie Oakley, this pistol carries a legacy of love. If you possess this pistol and find love, please record your name and a bit of your story to encourage those who follow.'" Her gaze dropped down a line. "'Tessa James married Jackson Spivey on March 3, 1894, in Caldwell, Texas. I was aiming for his heart but accidentally winged him in the arm. Thankfully, forgiveness and love cover a multitude of mishaps.'" Laura grinned as she read the last line, then glanced up. "You're adorable, Tessa."

"Stop it." She snatched the paper from her friend's hand, trying to ignore the heat flushing her cheeks. "That's not why I asked you to read it."

Laura chuckled. "I know." She schooled her features into a semblance of seriousness. "I'm not sure if your love note will hold any sway with Rena, but the fact that the pistol once belonged to Annie Oakley will. She'll want it for that distinction, if nothing else."

"That's a start." Tessa placed the note in the lining pocket, then clicked the lid shut. "Sometimes a seed of hope is all it takes. God will bring it to fruition when the time is right." She handed the box to Laura. "I pray your cousin finds as much happiness as I have."

Laura tucked the box under her arm. "Me too."

A light tap clinked against the window. Tessa turned toward the sound, her forehead scrunching as another tap sounded against the glass.

Laura set the gun case down and flounced toward the window. "What in the world?" She pulled back the curtain and peered outside. "Oh, for Pete's sake." Scowling, she grabbed the window sash and shoved it upward. "Randal Harrow! This is no time for one of your stunts. You're supposed to be helping Jackson get ready. If he doesn't need you, go . . . dust the church pews or something."

She made to drag the window back down, but Randal called out from below.

"Wait, fair maiden. Do not shut thy window without first giving ear to my message."

Tessa covered her mouth to mute the laughter she couldn't contain. "Gracious. Is he imitating Shakespeare?"

Laura scowled. "Not very well."

That only made Tessa laugh harder.

Laura sniffed before turning back to the window. "Relay your message, then begone, vagabond."

Oh, this was rich. Tessa never expected Laura would play along. Watching her and Randal spar was more entertaining than a vaudeville show. She crept closer to the second window and pulled the curtain back just in time to steal a peek at Randal pulling his hat from his head in a flourish as he bent in a low bow.

"My master, Sir Jackson of Spivey, has collected this bouquet of yellow sunlight for his lady fair." Randal held up a large handful of daffodil stems, each topped with a spectacular golden bloom. "He told me to convey that each blossom was harvested from the field behind yon schoolhouse, from soil infused with romantic significance."

Tessa had to blink to remove the sentimental sheen coating her eyes.

"Sir Jackson offers these flowers to Lady Tessa as a token of his esteem."

Laura leaned back from the window and sought out Tessa with a questioning look. Tessa nodded.

"Lady Tessa accepts Sir Jackson's gift," Laura called down to the man with the twinkling eyes and twitching lips. "One of her ladies-in-waiting will meet you by the back door to collect the bouquet."

Without giving Randal time to respond, she yanked down the sash and dropped the curtain back into place.

"That man is utterly ridiculous," she huffed as she turned her back on the window and reached up to ensure no hair had come loose from her pins.

Ridiculous he may be, but the exchange had brought a delightful color to Laura's cheeks.

"You know," Tessa said as her friend circled the bed on her way to the door, "he could have just knocked on the back door and handed the flowers off to Mrs. Winslow. Seems to me he was looking for an excuse to flirt."

Laura's cheeks darkened to scarlet. "We were not flirting!"

Tessa bit back a grin. "Really? Because you seemed to get into the spirit of his game fairly quickly."