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

On April 15, the president had called for seventy-five thousand men to form a militia and serve for three months, and the states that hadn’t seceded before then did so at that point, refusing to send southern men against their brethren.


“No. I’m too old.” Tom was forty-one, and he was at the high end of the recruiting age. In addition, he had a family to look after.


“I’d volunteer, but Ma needs me.”


Tom rested a hand on Bart’s shoulder. “You’re a good man.”


Bart puffed out his chest. “They shouldn’t have—”


“That’s enough, Bart.” Mrs. Hall had come out of the bedroom. She didn’t approve of war talk. Truth be told, neither did Tom. The only thing of good that had come out of the Mexican-American war had been his friendship with Guillermo Echevarría and his eventual meeting with Analeigh.


“Sorry, Ma. But they shouldn’t have,” he insisted under his breath. “You ready to go?”


Chapter 52