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

Olivia kept a little box of jewelry on the chest of drawers—bracelets, necklaces, earrings, the string of pearls that came to her on her mama’s death—she’d packed them when she’d thought she was eloping with Barron Beauchamp. Tom searched through the box. He was sure he’d seen…


Yes, the charm was exactly what he was looking for. He took it out and went into the kitchen.


He stirred up the fire in the hearth and rolled back his sleeve. For what he had in mind, he’d need a pair of tongs, and it didn’t take long for him to find them. It took some fiddling, but he finally got a secure hold on the charm. He held it into the fire, and once it glowed, he withdrew it and touched it to his wrist.


He bit back a cry of pain and dropped the tongs and the charm. Fortunately, there was some whiskey left in the bottle, and he poured it over the fresh burn.


He hissed. Not a good idea, but he knew better than to smear a burn with butter.


Chapter 49