"I should've helped you before."
The young woman studied his face.
He looked genuinely ashamed.
She remembered how he'd warned her about the upper berm, then refused to speak publicly because he feared angering the larger grower.
Now the consequences were visible across the valley.
She took a slow breath.
"You knew they blocked the old corridor."
He nodded.
"You knew my father warned against it."
Another nod.
She felt anger rising.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
The farmer looked toward the fields.
For several seconds, he remained quiet.
Then he answered.
"Because I was afraid they'd make things harder for my farm."
The young woman stared.
He continued.
"My equipment loans are tied to their operation. I send most of my berries through the same processor. If I crossed him, I thought I'd lose half my business."
She understood the fear.
She'd experienced a version of it herself.
But understanding didn't erase the cost.
She looked toward him.
"And now?"
The man lowered his eyes.
"Now I watched my nephew almost get trapped on a flooded road."
He paused.
"And I watched you lose a harvest trying to prevent something I was too scared to talk about."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he reached into his truck.
He removed a small folder.
"I kept copies of the construction notices."
The young woman's expression changed.
He held them out.
"The larger grower asked me to approve access across one corner of my land. I refused because I didn't like the drainage changes."
She took the folder.
Inside were letters, preliminary drawings, and notes from meetings concerning the service-road project.
One document carried a description of the raised earthwork.
Another mentioned the removal of an old drainage depression.
The young farmer stared.
Then looked toward him.
"Have you shown these to the investigators?"
The older farmer shook his head.
"Not yet."
She handed the folder back.
"Then that's what you need to do."
He nodded.
For a moment, he looked disappointed that she hadn't immediately forgiven him.
But she wasn't going to pretend the past months hadn't happened.
He needed to take responsibility for what he knew.
And she needed to protect her own farm.
The older man returned the folder to his truck.