Brenda Peterson believes she has found a lucky place to buy lottery tickets, and it’s hard to argue with her. The $2 Bonus Crossword instant scratch ticket she purchased at “her spot” just won her a top prize of $20,000!

“When there was a different convenience store at this location, I won a $2,000 prize and a $500 prize on tickets I bought there,” Peterson explained to Lottery officials. “Now in a new business in the same building, I’ve won $20,000. I think it’s my lucky spot!”

The store where Peterson purchased her Bonus Crossword ticket last Thursday is Short Stop 22, located at 104 S. 6th St. in Clay Center. She played the ticket on Friday and said she was “in shock” when she uncovered ten words and realized she’d won a top prize.

“I wasn’t sure what to do with the ticket over the weekend,” she said. “There was a possibility of severe thunderstorms and I didn’t want to hide it in the house in case something happened to the house. Likewise, I was afraid to lock it inside my car, for fear something would happen to the car. So I just kept it in my purse and kept the purse close to me at all times.”

After safely claiming the ticket late Monday afternoon at Lottery headquarters in Topeka, Peterson started making plans for how she would use her prize money. She said she would pay bills and would also like to buy a stock trailer.

“I know I don’t look like it,” said the 62-year-old winner. “But I do competitive barrel racing. For the past few years, I haven’t had a trailer so I haven’t been able to take my horses anywhere.”