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

“What more do you have to tell? Twilight threw a shoe, Sharps rode double with Steve—”


“Oh.” Usually, when the girls rode double, they would straddle Socks’s back. Even Thomas, who’d turned four on their journey to the valley, would ride that way in front of Bart or Frank.


Although since George had taken to wearing dresses, when he rode with Bart, he did tend to sit crosswise on Aramis…on Bart’s lap one might say.


“Yeah, oh. In addition, Twilight wasn’t limping. After Steve and Sharps bedded down—next to each other, I might add—I took the time to examine Twilight’s feet. He had all his shoes. And now those two are in each other’s pockets.”


George was surprised when Frank grinned and said, “It is, isn’t it?”


“And it doesn’t bother you, two men together?”


Chapter 118