Free The 15th Star (A Lisa Grace History - Mystery) by Lisa Grace

Grace was turned all around by the time they came to a large open courtyard near the front of the fort. There was a pole high up on the parapet that looked like it went a mile into the sky to Grace.
    It was then Grace realized the company of men standing at attention had been waiting on the Major’s arrival. At a nod from the Major another man barked out an order and a soldier began a drum roll. A company of six men took the flag in gloved hands and walked it up the stairs to the parapet. When they reached the top, they proceeded to unfold the flag with precision. One of the men worked at securing the flag to the rope on the pole. Grace could see how thick the rope was even from such a distance away. It brought back memories of all the work her, Ma’am, Rebecca, Caroline, and the nieces had put into the flag. Every stitch hand sewn and flat-seamed which took more work and twice the stitches.
    She felt pride in her accomplishment for the first time in her life, and realized she was watching her history. This was a good time, something she wanted to hold in her memory forever, these perfect minutes of her life. A tear came to her eye and she quickly wiped it away.
    Now she was honored Ma’am had sent her to see this. It was a blessing. The soldier tied the last knot to hold the flag to the rope. The drum roll ceased. Another command was given and the flag was raised. It was huge. Forty-two feet long, thirty feet high, “as tall as a four-story building,” Mam had told her when they were sitting and sewing.
    Louisa said, “Oh Grace, I had no idea.” The awe in Louisa’s voice brought another tear to Grace’s eye. It’s true. She had worked hard on that flag, just as much if not more than the other women.
    When the flag, all four stories of it, reached the top of the pole, another order was shouted out. Two men worked at tying it in place as the other two held the rope steady.
    When the soldiers were done, they stepped back and another command was given. All the men below, including the Major, saluted the flag. The sharp cracking flapping noise the flag made in the wind was like nothing Grace had heard before. The flags she made for ships were smaller and while they rippled and smacked in the wind, the noise they made was nothing like this, she thought. A constant thrumming like a huge angel’s wing.
    Louisa looked at Grace, “Thank you. God in heaven will surely remember our men when he sees what your hands have wrought. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”
    Another shout was given and the men snapped back into their formation ready to march. A small band consisting of a flute, piccolo, drum, and bugle struck up a song Grace had heard before, but had no idea what its name was.
    As the flag escort marched off, the rest of the troops were put at ease and went back to their business. A man wearing a uniform nicely stitched with highly polished brass buttons signifying some type of high rank approached the Major, Louisa, and Grace.
    “ Major Armistead, I see you have other interests to occupy your time while waiting on the completion of your battlements of defense.”
    Grace did not like how this man looked at her or Mrs. Louisa.
    “Major Rivers, this is my wife, Louisa, and Miss Grace Wisher. Miss Wisher is in the employ of Mary Pickersgill. She’s been sent to see the flag was to our satisfaction.” Grace dropped a quick curtsey as Mrs. Louisa just inclined her head.
    “ Will you be staying on at the fort, Major?” Louisa asked.
    “ No. No, my contingent and I will be leaving in the morning. We were just delivering armaments and gunpowder for the siege ahead. We will be leaving for another load to keep stocking the fort until the battle starts. I wasn’t as lucky as the Major to draw a commission with a roof over my head every night.” Major Rivers chuckled, but there was no mirth in it. The jealousy he felt for Major Armistead was palpable and Grace was glad he wasn’t staying, for Mrs.