Page 169 of Ice Princess

My heart humming with quiet dread, I ask, “Who came down to visit again?”

“Uncle Clarence. My dad’s older brother. I’m not sure if you’ve ever met him.”

The blood drains from my face and I struggle to hide how shaken I am. “Uncle Clarence. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard of him.”

Water drips on his shoes and the Sheriff winces. “This ice is about to melt completely. Let’s talk again soon, Rebel.”

The sheriff rushes to the counter to pay for his items while I frantically process the news.

Clarence Kinsey is here. In Lucky Falls.

After everything that happened today, thatcan’t bea coincidence.

I run to find the nearest clerk, who so happens to be one of the little girls I babysat as a kid.

“Rebel!” Britney brightens when she sees me.

“Brit, I’m so sorry. Can you put this back for me?” I hand over the basket with the ice cream and popcorn kernels.

Hurrying out of the mart, I climb into my truck and dial Gunner’s number.

He doesn’t pick up.

I call Chance next. “Hey, have you heard from Gunner?”

“No,” Chance says. “Why? What happened?”

“He’s here,” I relay in a frantic rush. Throwing my seatbelt on, I back out of the parking lot and speed down the road to the Kinsey farm.

“Who’s here?”

“Clarence Kinsey.”

Chance leaks a stunned breath.

“What happened?” April’s voice echoes in the background.

“Clarence Kinsey is here in Lucky Falls,” Chance tells her.

I can picture my best friend’s eyes double in sizing.

“I’m going over there.”

“Where? The Kinsey farm?” April yells and I realize that Chance must have put me on speaker.

Chance throws in his own protests. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? What if you run into Clarence? We don’t know what we’re up against here. He could be dangerous.”

“He’s not going to try anything with the entire family there. And I doubt I’ll run into him. I have an idea of where Gunner is right now.”

“Just… be careful,” April stresses.

“I will.”

I hang up and focus on the dark road. Since I know the Sheriff will be right behind me, I take a detour that leads to the back of the Kinsey property, and closer to the treehouse.

After parking the car, I throw the door open and hike on foot until I see the platform built on long, winding tree branches. Hiking up my pants, I scale the ladder quickly and just as I’m about to pull myself up, a hand appears in front of me.

My eyes collide with Gunner’s as he leans down, his hair blowing gently in the breeze and tugging on his shirt.

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