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

Oh, yeah, Nate knew about that. He’d overheard them talking about it just before they left the apartment. It was a good thing the walls between his room and the parlor were so thin, otherwise he wouldn’t have known anything, because Ma and that bastard Sam Pickett wouldn’t have said a word about where Bart was going.


Bart and George Pettigrew were out of this tenement, and Frank Thompson was going to practice law in California.


And meanwhile, Nate had to work sweeping floors in Bradway’s Dry Goods instead of working for a lawyer like Frank Thompson had been.


Mary Beth walked into the room and smirked at him. “You’ve got a puss on.” She was always taunting him.


“Oh for Pete’s sake, don’t call me that!” He turned his scowl on her.


He could feel the heat in his cheeks, and he growled.


“What’s bothering you?” she asked.


Chapter 97