Page 175 of Ice Princess

“Your grandfather… left the land at Darkwell Ridge to us?” My heart wallops my ribs and I can hardly believe I’m saying that.

Gunner nods.

“The one with the…” I can’t even finish it.

“The oil,” Gunner does it for me. “Although he didn’t know it at the time, he gave your family the most valuable property in Lucky Falls.”

I rock back as if someone swung a bat at my face. Gunner’s beside me in a flash, putting a steadying hand on my elbow. Ibarely register his touch because my head is about to explode. My eyes dart from side to side as I try to compute everything that’s happening right now.

I don’t believe it.

I can’t.

My brain is about to melt into a puddle of goo.

This…

This can’t be…

Clay Kinsey didn’t leave my mom land out on the edge of town that nobody would miss. He gave us the land by Darkwell Ridge. The land that allowed the Kinseys to buy all the storefronts on Main Street and establish themselves asthefamily in Lucky Falls.

“I can’t believe this,” I wheeze.

“Put your head between your legs and breathe,” Gunner commands.

I follow his instructions and keep breathing until my chest doesn’t feel as tight.

At last, I look up at him and croak, “Have you told anyone?”

He shakes his head. “I will. I just haven’t figured out a way yet.”

I stop freaking out long enough to think about this from Gunner’s perspective. Once this matter is taken to the law, the Kinsey businesses and assets will be stripped away. Not only that, but everyone will know that the Kinseys built their entire legacy on theft and fraud.

The Lady Luck Society, as superficial as they are, won’t allow Carol to continue being the chairwoman.

The Sherriff will have to arrest his own uncle, if he manages to keep being the sheriff at all. Lucky Falls folks forgive, but they don’t do the forgetting part that easily.

Everything in Gunner’s world will change. All the people he loves will be affected—and not for the better.

Gunner stares at the floor while I stare at his clenching jaw.

“Hey.”

He tilts his head in my direction.

“I’m sorry.” I lick my lips. “It would be easier if we just ignored this, wouldn’t it? But…” I inhale sharply, “I don’t think I can ignore this, Gunner, even for you.”

“I know.”

“Just because my mom’s a cleaner, just because she’s not a Kinsey, that doesn’t make stealing from her okay.”

He nods, jaw clenching and unclenching.

“What… happens to us now?” I croak.

Gunner jolts like I hit him. “I need to tell my parents?—”

“I meantus,Gunner. What happens to us if we follow this to the end?”

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