Redcoats

Chapter 3

Around midnight the party began to wind down and most of the guests had already begun to leave. Mike and Sarah had somehow snuck off to be alone, and both Dave and Jasmine had been missing for some time. The few who were left had moved inside the house to continue drinking and enjoy a few party games. They sat around the great room in various states of inebriation.

The topic of conversation made its way to ghost stories. Georgetown was full of them being a town with such an attachment to history and the revolutionary war. As they continued Brandon spoke up.

"This house is even haunted, you guys, tell em Sammy." Brandon said as he tipped back a bottle of rum.

"Shut up dude," Billy said smacking him on the shoulder.

Tiff perked up while sitting on Simon's lap, "Wait really, tell us the story."

Sammy tried to protest but Julia chimed in, "Come on, tell the story, you gotta tell us."

"Look I don't wanna freak anybody out we're supposed to all stick together til graduation, I don't wanna scare you guys." he said trying to avoid telling the story.

Mike walked in and took a seat next to the large fireplace. He cleared his throat before speaking, "I'll tell it Sammy, if the kids can handle it."

Barbara scoffed, "Kids? I'm older than you by like three weeks, ass."

Sammy shook his head, "Fine but don't come crying to me when they all come running to hide in the same room as you bud."

Mike pulled out a cigarette and looked at Sammy then the fireplace, "May I?"

Sammy's mother smoked but they had told everyone no smoking in the house, so Sammy played along. "This one time, dude that's it."

Mike, ever the showman, lit his cigarette and took a drag, he blew the smoke out slowly before he began. "So this was around 1778 or 1779, just before Georgetown was retaken by the colonial army."

Sarah came and sat beside him, she leaned on his shoulder as he continued.

"While the Redcoats held Georgetown they used the Church back there as a barracks and had the townsfolk house the officers. One officer was housed on the third floor of this house."

Barbara and Julia looked at Sammy who nodded and then pointed back to Mike.

"So the Swamp Fox used to raid the town at night, well he raided any time he could, but his night raids were the most memorable. Any way one particular night he raided. The watch signaled of course and the officer woke up and ran from his room trying to put his uniform on. He tripped on an uneven step before he made the first landing and went over the railing."

Mike pointed to the stairs in the main hall, "Landed on his neck right there, died on impact. So now he watches those stairs, and anyone who trips can feel his hands catch them and keep them from meeting the same fate."

The room went quiet for a moment, everyone stared and waited for him to continue. They all exchanged confused looks with each other then looked back to him.

Tiff spoke up first, "Wiat that's it, there's no horror or freaky blood leaking down the walls or anything?"

Barbara followed suit, "Like really that's bullshit, there are a thousand scarier stories about ghosts around here than that."

Sammy nodded, "what about the one where the dude got his head cut off, and he still walks the road looking for his head."

Sarah paused from nuzzling against Mike, "Let's not forget Old Gunn Church, that place has got all kinds of spooky stuff."