Free Winter of Redemption by Linda Goodnight

and a bedhead of pale, unruly hair, he was the cutest thing. Heart melting like a hot marshmallow, Sophie hoped he hadn’t heard the unsettling conversation. She cut a glance toward Kade and marveled at the instant change in him. He’d gone from Doberman-like fierceness to the gentleness of the golden dog trailing the child into the kitchen.
    â€œHey, buddy.” He went down on one knee in front of the little boy. “Feel better?”
    Davey nodded, then walked into Kade’s chest and snuggled his chin into his hero’s shirt. Kade’s eyelids fell closed. One blunt-nailed hand cradled the mussed head as he drew Davey close. Sheba, the shadow, crowded against both males and nudged Davey with her nose.
    â€œChief Rainmaker should be here any minute.” She set her cup aside. “What will we tell him?”
    Kade gazed at her over Davey’s shoulder. “That’s up to Davey.” Holding the child by the shoulders, he eased back to make eye contact. “Why did you run away last night?”
    The child shrugged, expressive face worried. She recognized that look. The one she’d seen on a number of faces over the years. A boy who knew he’d done wrong and now had to face the consequences.
    â€œWere the Cunninghams nice to you?”
    Davey nodded, then pointed, one by one to Kade, Sophie and Sheba. And finally back to himself.
    â€œOh, my goodness.” This little blue-eyed boy was quickly worming his way into her heart. She went to the floor beside him. “I think I understand.” She touched his hair, smoothing a lock that sprang right back up. “You want to stay with one of us. With Kade or me. Is that right?”
    A huge smile displayed several half-grown permanent teeth. He nodded vigorously before throwing both arms around Sophie in a bear hug. She rubbed her hands up and down his back in a gesture she frequently used with upset students. Touch, she was convinced, relayed emotion words could never speak. Davey’s small fingers kneaded in the hair at her shoulders like a motherless kitten.
    â€œListen, buddy.” Kade gently took Davey by the arm and turned him around. The small, sleep-scented boy stood between the adults in a cradle of care and protection. “Sophie and I will try. We can’t make any promises, but we’ll try. We want you to stay with one of us until we can find your family.”
    Davey’s eyes widened in worry. He shook his head side to side.
    â€œI’m getting confused here,” Sophie said. “Either he wants to stay with us or he doesn’t.”
    Kade shot her a look. “Or he doesn’t want us to find his family.”
    Davey whapped an attention-getting hand on Kade’s shoulder and nodded. Sophie’s heart sunk lower than an open grave.
    â€œThat’s it, isn’t it, Davey?” Kade asked. “You don’t want us to find your family.”
    The saddest expression came over the small, round face and tears welled in cornflower-blue eyes. He lifted his shoulders in a helpless shrug that both confirmed and confused.
    â€œBut that doesn’t make sense. Why would he not want you to find—” At Kade’s expression, Sophie stopped in midsentence.
    He had that look again, the one she’d noticed yesterday in the trash bin. Anger and despair.
    His bizarre reaction set her imagination into high gear.
    Did Kade’s moodiness have something to do with kids like Davey?

CHAPTER SIX
    S hortly after nine, the social worker arrived along with Chief Rainmaker. By then Kade was ready for a fight. Itching for one. Something was way wrong in Davey’s world, and hard as he tried not to go there, Kade imagined the worst.
    After sharing kitchen duty with Sophie to prepare a decent breakfast for Davey—an event he’d found pleasantly distracting—they’d settled at Ida June’s Chippendale coffee table with a deck of cards Sophie had