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

“The other ladies have gone to the rectory of St. Aedan’s of Fern to embroider altar cloths,” Mrs. O’Connor announced. A number of older widows also resided in this boarding house.


He and George waited until the ladies were seated before they sat themselves. Mrs. O’Connor signaled that Tom should say grace.


He wasn’t a religious man, and he usually fumbled and combined the words of a number of different prayers, but he’d do the best he could.


“God is great, and we thank Him for the gifts of His bounty. We ask Him to bless this food to our use.” He scrambled to find more words to say, and thought of the campfires when he’d been in the cavalry. “This meal is a sign of His love for us, and we pray You, O Lord, that it may be good for our bodies and souls.”


He sent a look toward Miss St. Claire and had to admit he was pleased when he saw her biting her lip to prevent a smile from blooming on her face.


Finally, unable to think of anything else to add, he simply said, “Amen.”


Chapter 17