A band of gravelly soil crossed the edge of the garden.
And the grass near the abandoned drainage line was greener than the surrounding pasture.
Nora crouched.
For several minutes, she studied the soil.
Then she looked toward Sarah.
“Was there ever a spring or seep here?”
Sarah hesitated.
“Daniel talked about one.”
“Did he document it?”
Eli held up the green notebook.
Nora smiled.
“Let's see.”
They sat beneath the barn awning and examined the drawings.
Some were simple.
Others contained surprisingly detailed observations recorded across many years.
Daniel had noted seasonal moisture conditions.
Estimated the small amount of water he observed moving through the lower channel.
And recorded dry years when the seep weakened considerably.
Nora pointed toward one page.
“Eli, did you know your grandfather had been studying this long before you were born?”
He nodded.
“He always liked water.”
She smiled.
“He was doing more than watching it.”
Then she turned another page.
“Looks like he was trying to understand the relationship between a shallow seep, soil texture, and the old channel.”
Eli leaned closer.
“Can we use it?”
Nora considered the question carefully.
“Possibly for a very small garden, but first we need to understand what the source is, how much water is actually available, and what rules apply to its use.”
Eli nodded.
She continued.
“Water rights and groundwater regulations can be complicated. Finding water beneath your property doesn't automatically mean you can pump unlimited amounts.”
“I don't want unlimited.”
Nora smiled.
“What do you want?”
Eli looked toward the North Bed.
Then answered quietly.
“Enough to keep Grandpa's watermelons alive.”
For a moment, Nora studied him.
Then nodded.
“That's a good place to start.”
She recommended further evaluation before the family disturbed the old underground channel. In the meantime, Eli could continue his small comparison plots using the water already permitted for their ordinary garden activities, while recording conditions carefully and avoiding assumptions about the source.
It wasn't the dramatic answer Eli wanted.
He'd hoped someone would look beneath the cottonwood stump and announce that Grandpa had discovered an enormous underground river.