“That's Grandpa.”
Hank nodded.
“Thirty-four years ago.”
Eli looked toward the other man.
“That's you?”
The farmer smiled sadly.
“Hard to believe, isn't it?”
For several seconds, Eli studied the photograph.
Then he looked up.
“What were you building?”
Hank took a breath.
“Your grandfather wasn't building a new spring. He was trying to manage water that had already been moving through the ground for years.”
Eli nodded.
“Nora told us.”
Hank looked surprised.
Then continued.
“We helped clear some old drainage lines. Daniel wanted the water to move naturally through the lower ground instead of pooling in one place.”
He pointed toward the photograph.
“That's the covered chamber.”
Sarah leaned forward.
“Why is the north boundary marked separately?”
Hank hesitated.
Then walked toward an old metal cabinet.
He opened it.
Inside were farm records, folded maps, and a dusty envelope.
He removed a document.
Then placed it on the table.
It was an old agreement between the Mercer and Barlow families.
The document described limited access for inspection and maintenance of a historic drainage feature near the shared boundary, subject to the terms of the agreement.
Sarah read carefully.
Then looked up.
“I've never seen this.”
Hank nodded.
“Daniel kept a copy.”
She frowned.
“Why didn't you mention it when Victor Dane wanted to buy the land?”
The farmer looked away.
For several seconds, he didn't answer.
Then whispered, “Because I wanted you to sell.”
Eli felt anger rise.
Sarah stared.
Hank continued.
“Prairie Gate offered me money if they assembled the corridor.”
He looked toward the table.
“And I convinced myself selling would be best for you.”
Sarah's expression hardened.
“You didn't get to make that decision.”
Hank nodded.
“I know.”
For a moment, he seemed older than sixty-three.
Then he looked toward Eli.
“I was angry with Daniel for years.”
The boy stared.
“Why?”
Hank took a breath.
“Because I thought he wasted good opportunities. I wanted to expand the spring collection. Sell water if we could get the permits. Make money from what we found.”
He shook his head.