“I have fuel.”
Noah opened the door.
His nine-year-old sister, Sophie, appeared behind their father.
Her eyes widened at the trucks.
“Whoa.”
Luke did not say whoa.
He walked down the porch steps.
Noah approached.
“Dad.”
Luke looked past him.
“How many?”
“Four today.”
“Today?”
Noah immediately regretted the word.
Luke closed his eyes.
“Noah.”
“They’re separated loads.”
“Noah.”
“Two shells, one approved organics, one cardboard—”
“Noah.”
Walt climbed out.
“Luke.”
Luke pointed toward him.
“Do not save him.”
Walt raised both hands.
“Wasn’t going to.”
“You knew?”
“Some.”
“How much is some?”
Walt looked at trucks.
“Apparently less than I should have.”
Noah stepped forward.
“Dad, the site is ready.”
“For a pilot.”
“This is the pilot.”
“This is a parade.”
Sophie whispered from porch:
“It’s kind of cool.”
Luke turned.
“Inside.”
She vanished.
Luke looked at Noah again.
“The county permit says five tons per week in phase one.”
Noah nodded.
“Of compostable organics.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed.
“The shell stockpile is separate.”
Silence.
Noah continued.
“Crushed shell is mineral material.”
“We can receive up to twenty tons under the temporary farm amendment storage plan as long as it stays on the gravel pad.”
Luke stared.
“You read the permit.”
“Yes.”
“You read every page.”
“Yes.”
“I signed that yesterday because you told me two seafood vendors wanted to try this.”
“Five signed.”
Luke’s face changed.
“You went back after I signed?”
“They called me.”
“Because you gave them our number.”
“Yes.”
Luke turned away.
He walked ten steps toward the barn.
Stopped.
Then turned back.
“Do you have any idea what happens if this goes wrong?”
“Yes.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do.”
“You’re thirteen.”
“I know.”
“You are thirteen, Noah.”
The words struck harder than Dean’s laughter.
Noah’s eyes burned.
“I know how old I am.”
Luke immediately regretted his tone.
But fear was louder.
“The county can shut us down.”
“I know.”
“We can get cited.”
“I know.”
“If runoff reaches Miller Creek, we can be responsible.”
“That’s why the compost pad is on the upper gravel section with the berm.”
“You built a berm with Gus Tanner.”
“Yes.”
“You did not tell me the scale.”
“You would have said no.”
Luke stared.
Noah realized too late.
That was not a defense.