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

The kid shifted again in the saddle, and Salida picked up on the almost unnoticeable signal. She wheeled around on her hind legs, which gave the kid the opportunity to turn his gun on Ezra and fire once more.


The bullet hit him in the gut, and George felt a sense of savage satisfaction. It wasn’t an easy way to die, and it took a long time.


They’d sat around the campfire one night after the little ones had been put to bed in the wagons, and Steve had spun a tale of how a quarrel on one of the wagon trains he’d led resulted in a gunfight and a man being gutshot.


At the time, George’d had the feeling Steve had been the one doing the shooting, even though he’d denied it.


Ezra stared at the kid in shock. “Goddammit, what’d you have to go and shoot me for?” He had the nerve to look insulted. And then he toppled off the gray stallion.


The whole thing was over in a matter of seconds.


Chapter 104