George Pettigrew and his papa must leave the California rancho they'd lived on since his birth. They end up in New York City, where Papa marries and George gets a new beloved mama. George also meets Frank and Bart who become fast friends, and in Bart's case, even more.<br><br>The start of the Civil War leaves George the man of the family, but although he’s found a job, it’s difficult to pay the ever-increasing rent. Then Papa dies at Appomattox and Mama falls ill.<br><br>After Mama dies, her father takes George’s siblings. When George learns his younger sister is being abused, he rescues the three children. But will dressing his sisters as boys and himself as a woman be enough of a disguise to keep them safe until they can reach the valley he’s dreamed of? Will Bart leave behind his own family and go with the man he loves?

Home Before Sundown

“Good work, George. Now why don’t you see what you can get with your bow and arrows? I’ll take care of Sunrise, then go fishing.” He grinned at George, and George felt his heart swell with the confidence Papa had in him.


He managed to get a prairie dog, and he skinned and gutted it the way Papa had shown him, then gathered twigs for kindling and deadfall for firewood and got the fire started.


As it turned out, there were fish in the stream, which was cold and swift- running, and Papa caught a couple of brown trout.


After he cleaned them, he laid them on a woven grill of green twigs and set to making coffee.


“The same time I can visit with those ladies?” Although George wasn’t too sure what he was supposed to do with them.


Chapter 5