Available July 3rd at www.redrosepublishing.com

By Mary A. Pope

Instinctively the trio set to their Sunday routine. Mom was cooking the bacon and spuds. Kathi was making the eggs. Morgan was making the toast. They chattered as they worked. There was a knock. Natalie wiped her hands on the back of her jeans as she walked to the front door. She flipped the lock and pulled it open. The piercing shriek of the alarm system had both girls screaming. Natalie was swearing and Sam Hawthorn burst through the door from the main house. Grabbing the paper from the counter Natalie didn't even notice him running into her living room.

The girls continued to scream after Natalie shut off the alarm. She twirled to see what was causing the problem. She jumped into the kitchen and protectively put both her girls behind her. She kept herself between the stranger and her children. She grabbed a knife off of the counter, drew in a haggard breath and croaked, "Who are you?" His crystal clear blue eyes twinkling with laughter, Sam stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I'm Sam Hawthorn."

Natalie muttered under her breath. “Shit.” Her heart was racing. Her palms were clammy. She set the knife down and moved toward her new boss to shake his hand. Way to go Campbell. Meet your new employer by trying the stab him.