"But the actual document here appears to concern a maintenance-access arrangement."
Eliza frowned.
"Is that normal?"
"Not necessarily improper. But we need the complete chain of records before understanding what was changed."
The clerk turned another page.
Then looked at the name of the company that filed the amendment.
A predecessor of Bellwether Land Holdings.
Eliza felt a chill.
Victor Sloane called her that evening.
He sounded cheerful.
"Miss Hart. I wanted to follow up on our purchase proposal."
Eliza sat at the kitchen table surrounded by copies of old records.
For a moment, she considered ignoring him.
Then answered.
"I'm still reviewing it."
Victor sighed.
"I understand. But we've made a very reasonable offer."
She looked toward the 1953 map.
"Why do you want the south field specifically?"
He laughed softly.
"Because it fits our expansion plans."
"Does your company have any connection to the old irrigation system?"
There was a brief silence.
Then Victor answered.
"We maintain several historic water-management facilities in the area."
Eliza took a breath.
"Does that include Junction J-14?"
The line went quiet.
For several seconds, she heard nothing.
Then Victor asked.
"Where did you hear that number?"
Eliza felt her pulse quicken.
"From a recorded map."
He cleared his throat.
"Miss Hart, those old cooperative records are complicated and may not reflect current legal arrangements."
"I understand."
She paused.
"That's why I'm having them reviewed."
Victor's voice became cooler.
"Reviewed by whom?"
"Qualified professionals."
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he changed his tone.
"Eliza, I know the farm has been difficult since your father's passing. I genuinely think selling could give you a fresh start."
She looked toward Samuel's photograph.
For several seconds, she was quiet.
Then answered.
"I appreciate the offer. But I'm not selling while I have unanswered questions about the water."
Victor sighed.
"You're making this unnecessarily complicated."
Eliza stared toward the window.
The old ditch lay beyond the cotton rows.
For a moment, she remembered Calvin laughing at the fish.
Then she said quietly.
"I think it was complicated before I started asking."
Victor didn't answer.
A few seconds later, the call ended.
The following morning, Calvin arrived without his tractor.
He parked his old pickup beside the barn.
Then approached the porch carrying a small cardboard box.
Eliza opened the screen door.
"Morning."
Calvin nodded.
For a moment, he seemed uncomfortable.
Then held out the box.
"Found something."
She looked inside.
There were photographs, an old maintenance invoice, and a folded survey sketch.
Eliza stared.
"Where did these come from?"
Calvin rubbed his jaw.
"My father's papers."
She invited him inside.
He placed the box on the kitchen table.
Then began explaining.
His father had served on the old cooperative's maintenance committee.
During the 1998 work, Calvin helped several contractors move equipment near the northern junction.
He remembered a large gate being repaired.
The company managing the neighboring property said the project was necessary to improve the system.