Matilda's Midnight Ride

By A.K. Mann

"Ask a question, open and read." Those are the instructions on the cover of the Book of Questions. And so, Matilda Blake, a confident, curious and somewhat headstrong girl does just that and finds herself on an adventure to the past in order to protect the future and save her younger brother, Ethan, from harm.
Travel with Matilda, Ethan and their cousin Geoffrey as they find themselves witnesses and sometimes participants at some of the most important events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
While Traveling through time, the cousins receive a cryptic note that leads them to read and analysis the Declaration of Independence for clues to the whereabouts of Ethan.
* Matilda as Paul Revere's horse is one of the express rider teams on the Midnight Ride where her brother Ethan is kidnapped by smugglers.
* Matilda is a curious tabby cat listening to Samuel Adams and his Sons of Liberty plan the Boston Tea Party. Then watching the action on the docks of Griffin's Warf unfold while waiting for Ruby, the leader of the smugglers - does curiosity kill the cat?
* Geoffrey joins the search as a loyal hound to one of the apprentices caught in the misunderstanding that becomes the Boston Massacre. Meeting bookseller, Henry Knox who would later would unknowingly play a pivotal part in the rescue of Geoffrey's cousin Ethan.
* As cardinals, and otter and even an ostrich, the two cousins work together while Colonel Benedict Arnold and Colonel Ethan Allen join forces at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. The two cousins are to meet up with the Commander, a mysterious crow who leads a team of Watchers: protectors of travelers through time.
* After listening to the colonial fighters preparing for the next day's battle and the British General's Gage, Clinton and Burgoyne do the same; Matilda flies the skies over the Battle at Breed's and Bunker's hill while battling the Ruby.
* Geoffrey watches from his perch on the banks of the Hudson as Ethan, in the form of an oxen, struggles to pull cannon across the thin ice. Will the artillery train, lead by Henry Knox, be Ethan's rescue or his ruin?
* More than one battle is scheduled for the slopes of Dorchester Heights in March of 1776 as the Matilda and Geoffrey look on while the Watcher's lead by the Commander challenge the smugglers lead by their cut-throat leader Ruby.

Mrs. Peacock's Summer School Farm and Study Program, an extension of an after school program, is the setting for much more than the fun and adventure of caring for goats, sheep and chickens while growing fresh vegetables.

Matilda, who will be entering the sixth grade in the fall, decides to do some snooping rather than finish (start) her book report on beekeeping. This opens the window for her cousin, Geoffrey (also to start sixth grade), and her brother Ethan (starting fourth grade) to join her in tour of American history. Join them in their adventures as they learn to work together and appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses. Getting in trouble is easy, getting out takes some teamwork and trust.

Supporting characters:
The Watchers. Madam - a prim, precise cardinal; a large black crow known as the Commander; Robin - no, she's a moth or is it a mouse?

The Smugglers on Ruby's Farm. Erica - mysterious prisoner who befriends Ethan; Ruby - cold and confident. She is determined to find the leader of the Watchers and eliminate him; Giardi - Ruby's nephew cold, but not so confident. He is trying to live up to his aunt's expectations; Leo - a rather odd choice as a second lieutenant to Ruby, or is he?

Mrs. Peacock's Farm. Jolly - a rather rotund farm cat, or is she? Mrs. Peacock - teacher, farmer and ... Watcher? Sariah - vivacious and pretty and a few years older, she attracts the attention of the shy and bookish Geoffrey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.K. Mann
• Release date: Aug 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311704504

A.K. Mann

A.K. Mann grew up in and with Tallahassee, Florida - both have been through some dramatic changes over the past half a century. Graduating from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in computer science she started an eighteen year career in computer applications development and systems management.Ms. Mann enjoys cycling on the lovely canopy roads surrounding Tallahassee. Right around the turn of the century, an untimely encounter with a mini-van (while on her bike) ended her first career. This caused Ms. Mann to try various occupations -- working in education, opened a café, running a trucking company (not recommended unless you thrive on stress) -- she finally settled into bookkeeping to earn a living. Matilda's Midnight Ride is her first published novel.

Book preview

I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and encouragement during the long journey to produce this book. I would also like to thank my early readers: Suzy Haines, Margie Thomas and her reading group, the 2013 fifth grade from Kate Sullivan Elementary.

Story development and encouragement from writers Jan Godown Annino and Adrian Fogelin, Copy editing by Paula Kiger. Readers, any mistakes remaining in the text are all mine. I would also like to give a special Thank You to graphic artist Rita Toews. She made an overwhelming task seem effortless. And a big Thank You to Mark Coker of Smashwords for his amazing self-publishing site and all the free advice and guidance given.

List of Illustrations

Cover - Blue Horse Running, oil painting by Boyan Dimitrov. Copyright Boyan Dimitrov

Cover - Graphic art by Rita Toews

Chpt 1 - Jolly by A.K. Mann

Chpt 4 - Portrait of Paul Revere c. 1768-70 by John Singleton Copley

Chpt 4 - Portrait of Major John Pitcairn by unknown

Chpt 5 - Battle of Lexington: Frieze in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol

Chpt 6 - Map of the Routes used during the Midnight Ride: www.paulreverehouse.org

Chpt 9 - Matilda Mouse Trapped by A.K. Mann

Chpt 10 - Copy of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson

Chpt 11 - Portrait of John Hancock by John Singleton Copley

Chpt 11 - Portrait of Samuel Adams by John Singleton Copley

Chpt 12 - Green Dragon Tavern, Union Street. Engraver: Russell c. 1898

Chpt 15 - The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, or the Bloody Masacre, Design by Henry Pelham for engraving

Chpt 16 - The Carp Pond by A.K. Mann

Chpt 18 - Oops! by A.K. Mann

Chpt 18 - Portrait of Benedict Arnold by Thomas Hart

Chpt 18 - Statue of Ethan Allen, sculpted by Larkin Goldsmith Mead

Chpt 20 - Moonlight Swim by A.K. Mann

Chpt 21 - New Orders by A.K. Mann

Chpt 21 - Map of Fort Ticonderoga: Thomas Jefferys derivative work

Chpt 21 - British Map from 1759 showing Fort Ticonderoga in relation to Fort George by William Brasier, draughtsman

Chpt 22 - Fort Ticonderoga 1775 by Heppenheimer & Maurer: shows the surrender of Captain De La Place to Ethan Allen

Chpt 25 - Portrait of General Thomas Gage by John Singleton Copley

Chpt 25 - Portrait of General Henry Clinton attributed to Andrea Soldi

Chpt 25 - Portrait of General John Burgoyne by Joshua Reynolds

Chpt 26 - Portrait of Henry Knox by Gilbert Stuart

Chpt 27 - Map of Boston Harbor: Bunker's and Breed's Hills by Mystic River

Chpt 28 - Siege of Boston Artillery by M.A. Wageman

Chpt 29 - Secrets by A.K. Mann

Chpt 32 - George Washington in 1772 at age 40 by J.W. Paradise (engraving)

Chpt 34 - Portrait of Benjamin Rush by Charles Willson Peale

Chpt 34 - Portrait of Benjamin Franklin by David Martin

Chpt 34 - Lee Resolution by Richard Henry Lee

Chpt 35 - Marshall's Life of Washington (1806)

Chpt 38 - Assembly room at Independence Hall by R.D. Smith

Chapter 1 – The Trunk

Matilda Blake, a precocious ten year old girl, prided herself on being known as the exception to the rule at Mrs. Peacock’s Summer School Farm & Study Program. But as she stood looking down at her muddy hooves, she thought maybe she had gone too far.

How have I ended up as Paul Revere’s horse?! Matilda asked, but all she heard was a whinny - and it was coming from her own mouth! The other horses in Reverend Clarke’s warm barn snorted and turned back to their hay.

The last thing she remembered she had been sitting on a weathered, split-rail fence, at Mrs. Peacock’s summer school program, watching the kids, baby goats, playing their own goaty version of head-butt tag on a cloudy, muggy Florida morning.

Skunk, a young black goat with a wide, white stripe down her back, came over to Matilda and nibbled on the sheet of paper she was holding. Matilda was supposed to be writing a report on the history of beekeeping in America. Skunk, no! That’s my outline paper. It was blank. She had been given the assignment two weeks ago, but had yet to even start the outline. Two weeks had seemed like plenty of time when it had been assigned, but now it was Thursday before the Monday it was due, and the thought of working on the paper made Matilda’s stomach ache.

Okay – I’ll start, said Matilda, gently pushing the goat away from the page. She wrote: 1. Types of early American bees. 2. Development of beehive styles. 3. Introduction of European bees. There, I’ve started, Matilda declared to the little goat, who was still straining to snatch the paper away. She looked at the three short lines and sighed, Time for a break, Skunk. Balancing her notebook on her lap, she picked distractedly at a scab on her left knee through a tear in her jeans. The scab had reached that delightful crusty stage where it started flaking at the edges so that it was possible to remove large ovals without causing bleeding.

Slowly, she slipped her fingernail under the loose edge of the scab. There was a satisfying sensation of relief from the itching and just a bit of pain to let her know she was getting close to the flesh that was still healing. As she teased away a bit of scab, ignoring the pain, a cool tingling sensation ran across her shoulders and down each arm. She felt like she was being watched.

Quickly, she looked up to find the source of her discomfort. The kid pens were built on a shaded acre with tall pines providing dappled sunlight. Looking out across the pens to her left, she saw nothing out of the ordinary - goats were playing on plastic climbing blocks, birds were landing on the occasional dogwood tree that dotted the acre. But off to her right, through a break in the grey skies a shaft of morning sun glinted off the lock of a trunk sitting at the entrance to the feed barn. There was a key in the lock. Upon the trunk sat Jolly, Mrs. Peacock’s fat, grey cat. Again Matilda’s skin prickled with goose bumps. There was something odd about the cat that Matilda couldn’t figure out. Jolly always seemed to be listening to what was going on around her, not just hanging about chasing flying, hopping things like an ordinary farm cat.

Matilda snapped her notebook shut and dropped it a safe distance away from Skunk - outside the fence. Later, Skunk. I’ve got something I need to check out, she said, hopping down from the fence, her bright hazel-green eyes twinkling mischievously. She checked her watch to see how much time she had before the other students might end their gardening for the morning. Ten-thirty, plenty of time to do a bit of detecting, thought Matilda. She had never thought of it as snooping – however, others’ opinions had differed in the past.

Jolly, I need in this trunk, she said as she petted the rotund kitty, How about a nice warm spot in the sun? she said, hefting the cat over her shoulder like a baby. She walked over to a wheelbarrow that was catching some of the sun, This is a much better spot for you Jolly, Matilda said setting Jolly down in the bed of the wheelbarrow. Jolly hissed at Matilda and immediately jumped out, and stalked away.

Oh stop fussing, said Matilda, you’ll fall right back to sleep – lazy thing. Matilda turned and walked back into the feed barn. She knelt by the trunk and ran her hand over it. The top of the trunk was a dark polished wood clear of dust or feed seed that covered anything left in the feed barn more than a week. The center of the top was engraved with three interlocking figure eights. She realized that she had seen this carved symbol before – on a box in her father’s room. More tingles of excitement gave her another set of goose bumps as she turned the key. This was usually how all her troubles started, but it was so much fun to snoop.

Turning the key and lifting the lid, she was greeted with a gleam of steel. It was the hilt of a long sword that was lying across the top of the trunk’s contents. Next to that was a jewel handled dagger sheathed in leather.

Check this out, Jolly. It’s full of treasure, she said, looking back toward the cat. But the big cat sat still and curled in the patch of sun, eyes shut tight. Quickly, Matilda looked around her to see if Mrs. Peacock or any of the other kids (the human kind), were near. Fortunately, the goats were the only kids in the barnyard paying any attention to Matilda. Of course, anyone entering the feed barn got their full attention.

Matilda raised the lid of the trunk higher and surveyed her new found source of inspiration for the summer. Another gleam of something shiny and silver caught her eye. It was a matched silver comb and mirror set. Matilda leaned into the trunk, a curtain of auburn hair falling across her face. She tucked her hair in behind her left ear, and picked up the comb and mirror set. The handles were ornately designed with scrolls and flowers; she could still see her reflection in the silver of the mirror despite its tarnish. Putting the silver set back, she saw lace wrapped around a bundle of dried flowers lying across an old diary on top of what appeared to be a photo album.

Oh Jolly, look at all this stuff! I wonder if all of this has been in Mrs. Peacock’s family for years! Matilda pulled out a silver picture frame holding a picture of what might have been Mrs. Peacock as a young woman. Matilda was confused, though, because the photo was in black and white. Mrs. Peacock, if it was her, was dressed from another time, like the pictures Matilda had seen of her great-great grandmother. The woman’s wavy, brown hair was piled loosely on her head and she had on a long, lacy white dress with three quarter length sleeves. The waist was fitted and flattered the woman’s thin frame. Perhaps it was Mrs. Peacock’s great grandmother.

Putting the picture back, she picked up the diary just as more sunlight broke through the cloud shining on some silver lettering. It was the embossing on the spine of a large book that was propped up against the side wall of the trunk. Next to the book was a stack of letters wedged in between the book and what might have been a jewelry box. The letters were tied up with a faded blue satin ribbon. Matilda didn’t know what to look at first.

She put the diary down and slid the large book out of the trunk. The Book of Questions. Hmm, I wonder if it has any answers, Matilda said to Jolly, still curled on the grass in another ray of sun. The cat’s head was upside down with one eye half open.

Matilda turned the book over to see what was on the front cover. Look Jolly, underneath the title it says ‘Ask a question, open and read.’ Matilda flipped through the pages, finding them all blank.

Jolly’s eye came into focus. She jerked her head up, ears perked and alert.

Well, you are paying attention. I’m going to try this before the rest of the kids finish in the garden.

Okay, here goes, Matilda closed her eyes and took a deep breath – she liked being dramatic.

Merrrow, MERRROWWW … Jolly howled, jumping up and running over to Matilda taking a swipe at the book with a sleek, silvery paw.

Wow, that’s some pretty fancy footwork for such a fat cat! I’m impressed, now go back to your nap and let me play, said Matilda. You almost knocked it right out of my hands, silly cat.

But the porky pussycat did no such thing. She jumped up, tail low, ears back, and streaked off toward the main house.

What’s got into you? Matilda yelled after the cat, then covered her mouth and looked around quickly, hoping she hadn’t caught the attention of the others. Oh well, you’ll have to miss the fun, that’s all, and with that Matilda asked her question.

Oh powerful and wise Book of Questions, she said in a low stage voice her father used for telling ghost stories. What’s the story behind that silver comb and mirror set?

She ran her fingers over the blue cover of the book, So let’s see what you have to say. She spoke softly to the book and opened it, catching about a half-inch of pages with her thumb so she could start somewhere in the middle of the book.

Matilda felt the blood drain from her face and her stomach rolled once – there was writing on the page. She didn’t know what she had expected, but not this. The page itself was made out of some sort of fabric rather than the usual white paper. It was an off-white color, something her mom called egg shell, and the ink was blue. There was an illustration of a horse and rider. The rider appeared to be calling out to farmhands and field workers. The story started:

In April of 1775, events leading to the start of the American Revolution came to a boil. Paul Revere, a talented silversmith and engraver, had already made one ride on April 15, 1775 to Lexington. He had information that the British general, General Gage, was preparing for extra maneuvers.

Great, a boring history lesson, now I understand why Jolly ran away. She probably thought I would read it to her, Matilda muttered. She flipped through some more pages. All were blank. She turned back to the page with the illustration and wondered, is this a trick? Is it …? Looking quickly around, she said, Ridiculous, there’s an explanation here somewhere.

Is this the best you can do? she asked the book. Nothing changed on the page, still the same blue lettering outlining the facts that set Revere’s ride in motion.

Matilda read on:

Information had reached colonial rebels that King George was sending seven hundred of his grenadier and light infantry men out from Boston. The colonials did not know exactly why they were being sent, but their guess was that General Gage hoped to catch two of the leaders of the Sons of Liberty, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, at Rev. Jonas Clarke’s in Lexington or staying somewhere in Concord.

As she read, Matilda found herself getting sleepy. She was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She felt her head nodding, and far in the distance a rhythmic beat that sounded like horse hoofs began to work its way into her consciousness. It was hoofs … hoofs on dirt moving at quite a fast pace. She felt a tight belt around her waist and a warm, heavy weight on her back. The air was crisp and cool with a fresh, moist smell she had never known before.

That’s when it happened; Matilda opened her eyes and found she was in the country. On either side of the dirt road on which she was running she could see crops shimmering in moonlit fields. Inhaling deeply, she was trying to pick out the different scents in the air when she noticed something really irritating in her mouth, worse than her night retainer. She shook her head in an attempt to get rid of the hard thing that was pulling at the sides of her mouth.

Easy girl, we only have about two miles to go. I know you weren’t expecting a late night ride, but we are almost there, said a man’s voice – to her! I too wish they could have called on one of the other express riders to carry this message, but I guess it was our turn.

Matilda couldn’t believe her long, furry ears. She was causing the hoof beats – they were her hoofs. She was a horse. What’s happened to me? she screamed. But all that came out was a high pitched whinny. No, no, this can’t be happening!

Chapter 2 - Feedbags

Easy, ea-sy! The man on Matilda’s back commanded in a strong but calming voice. What’s gotten into you? You’re about to buck me off. Have you a burr under the saddle? He patted her side gently and spoke softly in her ear.

That’s better. You must sense or smell something I can’t. The rider looked around, but could detect nothing. You’re going to spook me before long. Let’s move on and get to the Reverend’s house. That’s a girl.

Reluctantly, Matilda started back in the direction the man urged. She was confused and nervous, but as she ran she found comfort in the cadence. Her breathing slowed and a sense of peace settled over her when she concentrated on getting to their destination rather than worrying about how she happened to be a horse.

This looks like our stop, my beauty. Her rider nodded to the man on sentry duty.

Whoa girl. He dismounted and led Matilda to a water trough.

Who knew? They actually do say whoa, thought Matilda who only knew a bicycle saddle.

The rider bounded up the steps and knocked at the door while Matilda watched him closely. Master Revere, good evening, what brings you here? asked a tall man in black.

Master Revere! marveled Matilda, this is what I was reading ... what was it – something about British troop movements – something like that.

Reverend Clarke, good evening. I have serious news for Masters Adams and Hancock. Are they still at this residence?

Aye, that they are, he stepped back and motioned through the door, Please come in.

Revere looked past Reverend Clarke and saw a group of men sitting by the fire – some he did not recognize, I feel we will do well to meet in private. Is your barn unoccupied? Revere spoke in a low voice.

Aye, ‘tis. Would you have us meet you out at the barn? Reverend Clarke asked.

Yes, I think ‘tis best. I shall wait for you there.

Matilda pulled against the reins, looking back at the small wood frame house as Paul Revere, the man who had been her rider, led her around to the barn. He took a feedbag off the hook and found an oat bin by the tack wall. Paul Revere filled the feedbag with a few handfuls of oats and put it over her head. Matilda found the scent of the oats nutty and satisfying. The taste did not disappoint.

Several minutes passed before Matilda heard voices approaching them. Paul, my friend, what brings you here at this hour? A large man greeted Paul with a strong handshake and pat on the back. Matilda guessed he was in his thirties (about her dad’s age).

Master Hancock, urgent news from Dr. Warren, answered Paul who then reached to shake hands with a second man.

Matilda was fascinated by her new body which was strong and sinewy – very different from her soft, non-athletic human form. She ignored the men gathering in the barn as she concentrated on trying to work the feedbag. She had to use her tongue to lick the oats up and into her mouth. Matilda didn’t realize her grinding molars were drowning out all sounds until she swallowed and heard Paul Revere speak up.

"Dr. Warren has dispatched me with news of the British. We have information that General Gage is planning to send his grenadiers and some