The surveyor sat over coffee.
Thin man.
Sunburn.
Tired eyes.
Maps rolled beside him.
The boarding-house owner poured coffee.
“He knows.”
the owner said.
The surveyor looked confused.
“Knows what?”
“About the line.”
The homesteader sat.
“Does it cross my land?”
The surveyor studied her.
“Potentially.”
“How potentially?”
“We have two routes.”
“Show me.”
He hesitated.
“Preliminary.”
“Show me.”
The owner smiled.
The surveyor sighed.
Opened map.
One route crossed the merchant’s pasture.
Longer.
More grade work.
The other crossed the homesteader’s south forty near the creek.
Shorter.
Cheaper.
Likely.
The homesteader looked.
“How much land?”
“Right-of-way strip.”
“Payment?”
“Negotiated after final approval.”
“How much?”
“Depends.”
She hated that answer.
He continued:
“Could be fifty an acre for the strip. Could be more for damages.”
Her heart beat faster.
“What damages?”
“Fence.”
“Crop.”
“Water.”
“Access.”
The boarding-house owner whistled.
The surveyor added:
“Nothing guaranteed.”
The homesteader nodded.
“Good.”
He looked surprised.
“Good?”
“I prefer truth.”
The owner laughed.
The surveyor rolled map.
Then hesitated.
“There’s something else.”
The homesteader waited.
“Someone filed an inquiry at the land office.”
Her stomach tightened.
“About my claim?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Agent.”
“For?”
“I don't know.”
“What kind of inquiry?”
“Residence compliance.”
“Improvement.”
“Whether you’d abandoned.”
The boarding-house owner swore softly.
The homesteader’s hands became cold.
“Can they challenge?”
“Anyone can file a contest.”
“Winning is different.”
“What do I need?”
“Records.”
“Witnesses.”
“Proof you reside and improve.”
She almost laughed.
Her hands.
Her house.
Her barn.
Her garden.
The years themselves were proof.
But systems wanted paper.
She had little.
The surveyor continued:
“Start documenting.”
The homesteader nodded.
No panic.
Not this time.
The merchant had lost one lever.
He might try another.
She would not assume he had filed the inquiry without proof.
But she would prepare as if anyone might.
That afternoon she began a ledger.
Date.
Weather.
Work completed.
Acres cultivated.
Fence repaired.
Trees planted.
Receipts.
Cheese sales.
Witnesses.
The creamery owner signed deliveries.
The boarding-house owner signed purchases.
The blacksmith documented repairs.
The doctor signed his dairy observation.
The wagon driver signed transport dates.
She created evidence.
Not drama.
Evidence.
The merchant heard.
He became more careful.
His son less so.
A week later, the wagon driver saw the son near the south fence after dark.
This time he had a witness.