Winter of Redemption Read Online Free PDF

naturally curved lips. “Is this your dog?”
    â€œWas until this morning.”
    She gave him that happy look again. She was lucky. No one had wiped away her joy. Life must have always been good in Sophie’s world.
    â€œA boy and a dog is a powerful combination,” she said.
    â€œSheba’s a sucker for kids.”
    â€œSo is her master.”
    â€œMe?” Where did she get such a weird idea? He did his job. Did what he had to. And a dose of retribution was only just.
    â€œSo tell me, what did the doctor say?”
    â€œDehydrated and run-down but otherwise healthy. Nothing rest and nutrition won’t fix.” He’d been careful to ask the right questions and the child showed no signs of physical abuse. No outward signs.
    â€œWhat about his voice?”
    Kade nodded behind him to the kitchen. “Let’s talk in here.”
    â€œSure.” Smart Sophie got the message. He didn’t want to talk near the boy, not with the suspicions tearing at the back of his brain. With a lingering glance at Davey, she followed Kade to the kitchen.
    â€œWant some coffee?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s cold out.” She rubbed her palms together. “A hot cup sounds great if it’s already made.”
    â€œCoffee’s always made.”
    She raised a dark, tidy eyebrow. “Chain drinker?”
    â€œSafer than chugging Red Bull.”
    The answer revealed more than he’d intended. He went to the counter, more aware of her than he wanted to be and wondering, even though he didn’t want to, what it would be like to be normal again the way she was. Normal and easy in her skin. Maybe that’s what made her so pretty. She wasn’t movie-star beautiful, although she warmed the room like an unexpected ray of sun across a shadow. Dark, soft, curving hair. Soft gray eyes. Clear, soft skin. Everything about Sophie Bartholomew was soft.
    â€œWhat did the doctor say about Davey’s voice?”
    â€œHe found no physical reason for Davey not to speak, though he did recommend a specialist.” Kade poured two cups and held up the sugar bowl. Sophie shook her head. Figured. She was sweet enough. Kade loaded his with three spoons and stirred them in. “We’ll have to leave that to social services.”
    Sophie grimaced. He got that. Social services did what they could, but who really cared about one little boy?
    â€œThen there must be something mental or emotional, and he doesn’t appear mentally handicapped.” She accepted the offered cup, sipped with her eyes closed. Kade, a detail man courtesy of his career, tried not to notice the thick curl of mink lashes against pearl skin. “Mmm. Perfect. Thanks.”
    â€œWhich leaves us with one ugly conclusion.” He took a hot gulp and felt the burn before the liquid ever hit his belly. The more he thought about what could have happened to Davey, the more his gut hurt. “Trauma.”
    â€œI wondered about that, but was hoping…” Her voice trailed off. She picked at the handle of her cup.
    â€œYeah, me, too.”
    Sophie’s fingers went to her lips, flat now with concern for the little boy. She painted her fingernails. Bright Christmas red with tiny silver snowflakes. How did a woman do that?
    â€œYou think something happened that upset him so much he stopped talking?”
    Jaw tight, Kade nodded. “So does the doc.”
    And if it took him the rest of his life, somebody somewhere was gonna pay.
    * * *
    Sophie studied the trim, fit man leaning against Ida June’s mustard-colored wall. In long-sleeved Henley shirt and blue jeans, dark brown hair combed messily to oneside, he could be any ordinary man, but she suspected he wasn’t. Kade McKendrick was cool to the point of chill with a hard glint to wary eyes that missed nothing. He was tough. Defensive. Dangerous.
    Yet, he’d responded to Davey’s need with concern, and he had a wry wit beneath the