Then he thought about the old covenant.
The six names.
And the way Dale had been pressuring his mother.
Noah stood.
His knees were muddy.
His hands shook slightly.
But he looked directly at Dale.
“Mr. Harker, did your grandfather help build the spring system?”
The old farmer froze.
For a moment, the smile disappeared completely.
“What?”
Noah took a breath.
“Edward Harker. His name's on the agreement.”
Billy stopped laughing.
Pete looked toward Dale.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Dale leaned forward.
“Where'd you hear that?”
Noah held the notebook close.
“Grandpa wrote it down.”
Dale's face reddened.
“Your grandpa wrote down a lot of things.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Most of them weren't worth the paper.”
Noah felt anger flare.
But he kept his voice steady.
“Then why does Prairie Meridian want the old spring corridor?”
Dale stared.
Billy looked surprised.
“Prairie Meridian?”
Pete turned toward Dale.
“What's that got to do with the spring?”
The old farmer's jaw tightened.
He pointed toward Noah.
“You stay out of grown men's business.”
Noah took a step backward.
He was frightened now.
Not because Dale was shouting.
Because the man's anger seemed far larger than the question deserved.
Then a voice came from behind the fence.
“Dale.”
Ezra Cole had arrived.
The seventy-two-year-old retired farmer stood beside his rusty pickup, watching the three men.
Dale turned.
“What?”
Ezra looked toward Noah.
Then back at Dale.
“That's enough.”
The older farmer laughed bitterly.
“You taking orders from a child now?”
Ezra shook his head.
“No.”
He approached the fence.
“I'm asking you why the development company thinks it can claim rights through a spring corridor our families built together.”
Dale's expression changed.
For several seconds, he didn't answer.
Then he looked toward Billy and Pete.
“Let's go.”
Billy frowned.
“What about—”
“I said let's go.”
The men returned to the truck.
Dale climbed into the driver's seat.
Before starting the engine, he looked toward Noah.