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

“Didn’t you hear me?” She was becoming annoyed, and Tom was pleased to see that. “I’m no longer a virgin, and because of that, no decent man will have me.”


She tipped her head back, giving him a look he’d seen society matrons use when they felt he hadn’t brought the cab close enough to the curb to avoid the nastiness in the cobbled street, and that pleased him even more.


“Miss St. Claire, I assure you it doesn’t matter if you’re no longer a virgin.”


“That was my most important quality.”


Tom’s pleasure vanished. He didn’t like it, didn’t think it was fair—his own father, the best man he’d known, had raised him up to believe otherwise—but unfortunately, in this society, that was the way it was for women who’d been debauched, even through no fault of their own—the river or the whorehouse.


“Oh my dear Lord!” she exclaimed suddenly.


Chapter 14