Title and/or author

[damiat1]

I'm trying to find a book but can't remember the title or author. All I can remember is the story line. It starts with a family (mother, son, step father) adopting a little girl. The son and little girl become great friends. The step father started looking at the little girl in a sexual manner and the son tries to protect her as best he can but he knows its only a matter of time. So, he runs away with her in a snow storm. They're picked up by a trucker who gives them an address in California. The kids end up living on the street before they finally go to that address. It's a store and he (I think his name is Mike) gets caught stealing by the owner who happens to be an ex cop. He adopts them (during Christmas ?). Years later he is shot and killed by someone he had put away and during the tragedy Mike (?) and the girl falls in love and the ex cop's son returns (the trucker) upon hearing of his fathers death.
If you have any idea of what the title or who the author is it would be greatly appreciated.
(It's driving me crazy!!!)