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

George realized he’d read Sharps’s expression right. Poor kid was riding for a fall.


Sharps turned to George. “Would you take care of the lady?”


“What will I do without him?” Mrs. Fox cried. “I’m expecting a baby. How can I raise four children all alone?”


“Try not to worry. We’ll help you.” George took her arm to help her to her wagon.


“You’ll help us? You’llhelp us?” She yanked free and slapped George so hard his head rocked back. “It’s because of you that Albert is dead.”


George’s cheek throbbed—she’d managed to hit the same spot where Eli had struck him. He seized her wrists and kept her from hitting him again.


“I understand your distress, Judith, but it wasn’t our fault that Al was shot.”


She burst into more tears. George drew aside the canvas at the back of the wagon that closed off the interior, then picked her up, carried her into the wagon, and laid her down on a makeshift bed. She curled on her side and continued to weep.


Chapter 114