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 hummed in contentment. “I’m so lucky I found you.”


“You are, aren’t you?” Bart scooped George up into his arms and whirled them around in circles until they were both dizzy.


George burst into laughter, wrapped his arms around Bart’s neck, and pulled his head down for a final kiss before Bart set him on his feet. George petted Bart’s chest, helped him into his shirt, and buttoned it up. He smiled into Bart’s eyes, stunned to see them shiny with tears.


“If you hadn’t come back…if I thought those bastards had taken you away from me for good, I’d have let them hang me and be glad.”


“I hate to think what my life would have been like without you. Don’t ever leave me.”


“I won’t, I promise.” He stood on tiptoe and kissed the tears from Bart’s eyes. “But if I’d come back to find they had hung you, I wouldn’t have left a single one of them alive.”


Bart drew in a shaky breath. “All right, then.”


Chapter 120