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

His brother made a rude sound. “I’ve got to go get Father Thompson. Dunno why he needs to be there. None of the women in our tenement get a priest in when their men die.”


“Mrs. Pettigrew is a lady. They’re more delicate.”


“Delicate my ass.” Nate made another rude sound.


“Just go.” Bart took the newspaper and left his brother standing there with a sulky expression on his face, and went looking for Mr. Wagner.


Some bosses were horrible to work for, but Alex Wagner was a good man. He didn’t work the men overly hard, and he paid them a fair day’s wage. He was the one who’d encouraged Bart to go to the Cooper Institute to hear Mr. Lincoln’s speech, and if he hadn’t been past the age of recruitment, he would have joined up the first day the president called for volunteers.


“Sure, Bart,” he said after Bart told him. “And tell your friend and his ma how sorry I am.”


Chapter 65