Join former U.S. Army rescue dog Sgt. "Rico" Ricochet, a bomb-sniffing Malinois, as he leads the Pawtriots on their fourth mission in this all-American illustrated chapter book series! The Pawtriots are en route back home to D.C., but there's trouble barking in the Boston Harbor...Will Rico divert his course to accept the dangerous mission? For young readers wanting action-packed adventure with a patriotic message, the Pawtriots are the perfect team! Samuel P. Fortsch is a former Captain in the US Army and a lifelong writer who first began creating other worlds and characters in the fifth grade. He lives in Western Massachusetts with his lovely wife, three wonderful kids, and his two pooches. Chapter 1 Land Ho! Location: USS George Washington , Atlantic Ocean Date: 20MAR21 Time: 1100 hours Welcome back on board, soldier! Our time on the USS George Washington , the United States Navy’s premier nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is coming to an end. Today’s the day we dock in Boston! We’ve been on the ship for three days, making our way up the Atlantic coast from the Caribbean. This massive ship is as big as it is slow. We’re lumbering through the ocean at a top speed of about twenty-six knots—that’s only thirty miles per hour. Now that we’re getting close to Boston Harbor, here’s a quick debrief to get you caught up to speed. After we battled long and hard against the Thrice-Cursed Pirate Sea Wolf and his vicious crew, the Cutthroats, the Pawtriots and I were finally able to get some much-needed R&R —that’s Army-talk for “rest and relaxation.” And trust me, after our last mission, it was much needed. Our fight against the pirates was dangerous and full of peril, but the Pawtriots banded together and never lost hope. We even added two more Pawtriots to our ranks: twin beagles named Jag and Jet. Jag is in the Navy. He’s a by-the-book hard-liner who never breaks the rules, except for that one time when he commandeered a ship to save my tail and his sister’s, too. Jet, his sister, is a hard-charging Coast Guard dog who is more than willing to bend the rules. They received special exemptions to help the Pawtriots on all future missions. They’re both welcome additions to the Pawtriots’ ranks! All this downtime aboard the USS George Washington has really let us bond as a unit. Aside from the occasional argument between Brick and Franny, things are going great. I’ve even been able to do roll call every morning at 0630 sharp to make sure everyone is present and accounted for. After roll call, I lead the Pawtriots in PT . That’s Army-talk for “physical training.” To keep us fit while on board this ship, we do a lot of exercises, sprints, and, of course, paw -ups! We’re going to need to be in tip-top shape for our long march down to Washington, DC. Once we dock in Boston, we have a seven-hundred-klick trek. Klick is Army-talk for “kilometer.” Our plan is to hitch as many rides as we can, but the Pawtriots need to be prepared for anything because sometimes even the best-laid plans can go wrong. When I was in the Army, our platoon sergeant always had a plan for when things went wrong. A good leader always prepares for the worst but hopes for the best.   Location: Boston Harbor Time: 1300 hours The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. I watch as sailors race across the deck with smiles stretched across their faces. I realize that we’re not the only ones who are excited to get off this ship. I look out at Boston Harbor. I see a beautiful city filled with glass-and-steel buildings that pierce the sky. The docks are full of cheering families waving American flags. They’re ready to welcome home loved ones who have been far from home for a very long time. I gathered all the Pawtriots on deck, so we could soak in this powerful moment together as a unit. I know the people aren’t waving and cheering for the Pawtriots, but, in a way, it almost seems like they are, and that makes me feel good inside. It makes me feel proud to be an American. We all wait with eager anticipation as the massive ship slows down and carefully begins to dock. “Have any of you ever been to Boston?” asks Jag. “Negative,” I say as the rest of the Pawtriots, except Jet, shake their heads side to side, signaling “no.” “I’ve been here a bunch of times,” says Jet. “I love the food here, and I know a ton of great spots to eat. And this city is full of history, too.” “Like what?” Brick asks. “The American Revolution began just a short eleven miles northwest of here, in Lexington, Massachusetts, on April nineteenth, 1775,” says Jet. “You should know that. Aren’t you British?” “ Oi! Of course I know that. I’m just a little fuzzy on the details,” Brick says. “Ssso,” Smithers begins, “Bossston wasss crucial during the War of Independence. The colonialsss and the Britisssh fought hard to sssecure thisss ssstrategic ssstronghold.” Smithers continues retelling a bit of history and I begin