Eli mentioned it at supper.
Marcus was tired.
It had been a long day repairing a hydraulic line on the hay rake, followed by an argument with a feed supplier over an invoice.
“Dad, the back pond is getting bigger on one side.”
Marcus cut a piece of roast.
“It’s been raining.”
“Only the northeast bank is moving.”
“Water follows low ground.”
“I checked the grade.”
That made Marcus look up.
“With what?”
“The level in the shop.”
“You hauled the four-foot level to the pond?”
“And a straight board.”
Warren hid a smile behind his coffee cup.
Marcus noticed.
“Don’t encourage him.”
Warren shrugged.
“Boy measured something.”
“That doesn’t mean the pond is planning a crime.”
Eli frowned.
“I didn’t say it was.”
“You’re looking at me like you’re about to.”
That got a laugh from Warren.
Even Eli smiled.
But after dinner he returned to the pond.
The next clue came from the cattle.