Chapter 11

"I'm sorry about that Harriett, I had thought there was going to be some kind of announcement and honestly, I've been so tired when I get home in the evenings I've been eating and falling right into bed," Mac replied.

"Wow, it sounds like they are working you hard whoever you're working for these days."

"They sure have!"

With an exasperated sigh, Harriett asked, "Well, are you going to tell me or am I going to die of suspense?! And remember if you let me die, you won't just be killing one, you'll be killing three!"

Mac chuckled at Harriet's dramatics and told her, "Oh sorry, like I said, I'm not at my best in the evenings yet. My honorary Uncle, Joe Leland, offered me a job with the Secret Service. I'm guarding the President."

"WHAT?!" Harriett squealed excitedly. "Wow! That's awesome!" There was a pause and then in a changed tone, she asked, "Wait a minute! Does that mean you might get shot?"

"Not if I'm careful Harriett. As much as that kind of thing is publicized, it's still a very rare occurrence. Don't worry about me, okay?"

"Well…if you're sure…Wait till I tell Buddy! He will be so excited! Can he tell everyone at the office?"

With a laugh Mac said, "Sure Harriett, I just wish that I could have a picture of Creswell's face when he hears the news."

"Buddy has one of those camera phones…I got it for him for his birthday…" Harriett suggested in a conspiratorial voice.

"Oh Harriett I wouldn't want him to get in trouble!" Mac giggled.

"But it would be SO worth it! Come on!" Harriett encouraged.

"Well, if he thinks he could get it without getting caught, I would love to see it!" Mac admitted.

"I'm sure he can!" Harriett giggled too. They talked for a little longer 'til there was a crash in the background and Harriett had to go and find out who had done what. Mac promised to try her suggestion about Laurel and let her know how it worked before hanging up.

Thursday was an unusual day. Not that Mac could honestly say any day was 'usual' when you were talking about the President of the United States! But every day so far, there had hardly been time to get from one meeting to another, however, Thursday, Kenneth seemed to spend a lot of time waiting for others that were late or on phone calls that didn't happen when they should have. The side effect of that was he and Mac were often alone together with nothing to do but talk. It actually became amusing how they would be interrupted in the middle of a conversation and then when the two of them were waiting on something else to happen, they would pick up the conversation as if no time had passed at all.

During one of their talks Kenneth unexpectedly asked, "Sarah, do you ride?"

Since they had just been talking about his horse, she knew what he meant, "Well I know how, but I haven't done it in years. Why?"

"Did you enjoy it?" he asked, not answering her question.

"From what I remember, I'd have to say yes. I got to go to camp one summer as a kid and I remember the sense of freedom it gave me. Home wasn't a very pleasant place for me and I used to imagine that I could just get on that horse one day and keep on riding. As that summer drew to a close, I would spend as much time riding as they would let me. I hated leaving that camp."

"How old were you?"

"I was fifteen. That was the year my mother ran off and left us."

"I'm sorry Sarah," Kenneth said softly.

"It was a long time ago. Why did you want to know if I rode?" she asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Well, my main agent works Monday thru Friday, as you know, with the weekends off, Paul Gordon is with me on Saturday and Sunday. That's the only time I ever have free to ride and Paul, can ride, but hates it. So I was wondering if you'd like to try riding again? Then if you do, you might consider switching days off with him. It isn't very enjoyable to have someone along that isn't happy about being there."

To be continued…..