Page 199 of Ice Princess

“Clay Kinsey left a plot of land for you in his will,” Rebel blurts, her eyes as hot as the bluest flames.

Mrs. Hart’s eyebrows fly to the top of her head.

“And Stewart here saw it as another opportunity to manipulate and use you.”

“That’s not true! I’ve had feelings for your mother for a long time.”

“Oh please! You were planning to marry her and then pocket all the money once it comes rolling over to her.”

“And you think you’re any better? Didn’t you date Gunner just to get into the Society?”

I freeze.

April covers her mouth.

Mrs. Hart glances between me and Rebel.

Uncle Stewart preens. “You and your mother are nothing but the help. You should bethrilledyou get the chance to marry a Kinsey. Everyone in town respects us. But you? You’re just trailer trash. You and your mother should be thankingmefor?—”

Her face a flaming red, Rebel surges forward. I catch her by the mid-section before she can fly into Uncle Stewart’s bat.

“You want to see trailer trash? Fine, I’ll give you trailer trash! Gunner, put me down!”

I keep her airborne as her legs scramble several inches off the floor.

At that moment, the door bursts open and dad barrels in. He’s wearing his sheriff’s uniform and has his two deputies with him.

“Dan!” Uncle Stewart’s eyes widen.

My dad doesn’t break his stride. He storms over to his brother, yanks the bat away and slaps handcuffs on him.

“Dan, what are you doing? I’m yourbrother?Get these off me.”

“Stewart Kinsey, you are under arrest…”

As dad rattles off Uncle Stewart’s crimes, I stare at him and a memory snaps into my brain. It was all the way back in kindergarten and dad came to present for career day. I watched him in his uniform, talking in front of my entire class and I felt a sense of awe.

That’s my dad, I thought proudly that day.

The remnants of that same pride echo now.

That’s my dad.

“You’d turn on your own family, Dan! You’d really do that?” Uncle Stewart squirms as dad hauls him upright.

“I’m doing what’s right as an officer of the law and a servant of my community.”

“You’ll have nothing after this, Dan. You’llbenothing!”

Uncle Stewart’s yelling gets fainter and fainter as the deputies cart him off.

“Oh my goodness,” Mrs. Hart mumbles.

I rush to catch her as her legs give out. “Are you okay, ma’am?”

“Lewis, call the ambulance,” dad says into his walkie.

“I’m fine. I’m fine. I just need to sit down,” Mrs. Hart says. I lead her to the couch and Rebel pushes pillows behind her back to make her comfortable.

---