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

This man loved her. And perhaps in time she’d give him a son or daughter that would truly be his. 14


“What should we have for dinner?” Tom asked. They’d finished a quick glance at the interior of the cottage—not that there was much to see with everything under covers—and he was even more pleased with it than when he’d first seen it. Now he was going to drive Olivia to the rectory of the Church of the Beloved Apostle to visit the priest who presided over the congregation.


“I would love a duck dinner,” Olivia said, then looked puzzled. “That’s odd. I don’t usually care for duck, but suddenly I have such a desire for it.”


“All right, then. George, you take the horses to the stable out back. After you have them settled, I want you to go to the butcher and buy a duck. And put it in the ice closet until we get home.” He’d made sure they had one in the small pantry off the kitchen.


Chapter 30