Shelley Freydont - Celebration Bay 03 - Independence Slay Read Online Free PDF Page B

silhouettes against the water.
    The crowd became quiet. Children strained forward to see what would happen next. Anticipation rippled through Liv.
    A voice worthy of reciting the Declaration of Independence began the story of the Battle of the Bay: “It was on a summer night when General Haynes received word that the British had begun moving ships toward the fort of Ticonderoga, but they were never to arrive. For from the roof of his house on the lake, Henry Gallantine signaled the British approach and called the patriots of our great state to arms. Here is the story of those brave men who preserved the freedom of all New York.”
    It was thrilling, if mainly hyperbole and a good deal of imagination.
    Just as the sun completely disappeared behind the crowd, someone cried, “There. It’s the ghost of Henry Gallantine. Up on the parapet.”
    All eyes turned to the roof of the mansion.
    A figure hovered behind the stone parapet, perfectly framed in an eerie light that made him look otherworldly. Liv was duly impressed. And she let herself be pulled into the action as the figure lifted the lantern. It blinked once, twice, and again. Then the light went out, and the lantern and figure disappeared.
    From the shadows of the trees, the patriots crept stealthily onto the lawn. The lights rose just enough to see their uniforms, swords, rifles, and deadly bayonet-tipped muskets. First the left flank, then the right, until fifty men met in the middle of the lawn, waiting for their leader.
    “You’re positive none of those rifles and muskets work?” Liv asked.
    “Authentic, but not loaded. We used to fire them but it was a pain in the butt. Sometimes literally,” Ted whispered. “Another reason we added the British ships,”
    Out on the lake light rose on several “British” ships.
    And as the American army joined as one and turned toward the lake, a rider and horse galloped from behind the mansion. Daniel Haynes reined in before his troops and brandished his sword as the stallion rose on its hind legs.
    There were exclamations of delight and awe from the bleachers. Liv had to admit it was pretty spectacular, and the fireworks hadn’t even begun.
    With the general leading the way, the patriots rushed to the lakeshore, where the general rode out of view—to dismount at the horse trailer, Liv supposed. The others dispersed, climbed into boats and started to row.
    All the lights went out. Even those of the vendors across the street. Only the ships were backlit from some unseen source, and the silent black boats fanning out around them were silhouetted by the moon.
    As they rowed closer to the ships, the final light blinked out, leaving total darkness except for the starlit sky as the patriot boats disappeared into the night.
    Where, Liv knew, they would be tied up at neighboring docks until the next morning. The men would return to the Elks’ hall and hand in their uniforms. They’d change back into street clothes to enjoy the rest of the fireworks with everyone else. But for now it was magical.
    “Good timing,” Liv whispered to Ted.
    “Got it down to a science,” Ted said as the first spray of brilliant red fireworks lit the sky.
    The crowd
aah
ed. A baby started crying.
    Liv leaned toward Ted. “Now, that is very effective.”
    But Ted wasn’t watching the fireworks. He was looking back at the roof, where the figure with the lantern had reappeared. The light was flashing. In short and long bursts.
    “Is that part of the show?” Liv asked.
    Ted shook his head.
    “What is it?” Liv demanded, suddenly alarmed.
    “It’s Morse code for SOS.” He was already climbing down the bleachers.

Chapter Three
    Ted jumped down from the bleachers and reached back to give Liv a hand, but she was already on the ground and running toward the house.
    “Liv, wait,” Ted called, jogging after her.
    She slowed long enough for him to catch up.
    “Do you have a plan?” he asked, only slightly out of breath.
    She shook her