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

Neighborhoods like this…a stranger came into them, and the people who lived there would have no qualms about questioning his presence. That was how it had been after he’d stood leaning against the lamp for a few days. A plump, rosy-cheeked little woman who reminded him of a robin redbreast stormed across the road and demanded to know what he was doing there, thumping a forefinger against his chest.


Sam couldn’t help smiling. He hadn’t been attracted to a woman in a long time, but this one did something to him. He wanted to kiss the angry words from her mouth until she melted in his embrace, but he knew at that point it would just earn him a slap in the face. Instead, he’d set about spinning a yarn that eventually won her sympathy, although she was still closemouthed about what went on in her tenement. Maybe that was why before too long he came to discover he was actually courting Josie Hall, and not for the information she could give him.


Chapter 85