He placed it on the warm hood of Vivien’s SUV.
Opened it.
Pulled out the deed.
Stamped survey.
Title commitment.
“Show me.”
Vivien looked at the documents.
“Show you what?”
“One line.”
Elias tapped the folder.
“One recorded document giving Willow Crest authority to inspect my ranch.”
Vivien glanced at the survey without reading it.
“You live in the middle of a community.”
Elias closed the folder.
“No, ma’am.”
He looked toward the rows of roofs beyond his pasture.
“You built a community around my ranch.”
Silence.
Tyler lowered the camera completely.
Martin stopped writing.
Patricia looked at Elias for the first time.
Vivien’s jaw tightened.
“We’ll document your refusal.”
“Do that.”
“We’ll also document every condition visible from association property.”
“You can photograph whatever you can see lawfully from wherever you’re allowed to stand.”
Vivien stared.
“You’ve spoken to someone.”
“No.”
“Attorney?”
“No.”
“Then I suggest you do before you make this worse.”
Elias almost smiled.
“First sensible thing you’ve said.”
Vivien turned away.
The group spread out toward the portion of the property already entered.
Elias remained near the gate.
He did not physically remove them.
He did not threaten.
He stated clearly:
“I am withdrawing permission for every one of you to remain on the property.”
Vivien looked back.
“This is an association inspection.”
“I heard you.”
“You need to leave.”
Martin glanced toward her.
Carl frowned.
Patricia began walking toward the SUV immediately.
Vivien stayed another minute.
Then another.
Eventually, perhaps recognizing how unnecessary the confrontation was becoming, she gestured toward the vehicles.
“Fine.”
As Patricia passed Elias at the gate, she slowed.
Vivien was twenty yards away speaking sharply with Martin.
Patricia spoke without turning her head.
“You’re not the only one.”
Elias looked at her.
“What?”
“The Whitaker place got letters.”
“So did Gideon Pike.”
“Old places along the county road.”
Elias frowned.
“None of them are in Willow Crest.”
“I know.”
She swallowed.
“Most people paid something just to make the letters stop.”
“Why?”
Patricia looked toward Vivien.
“Because nobody wants the board making their life miserable.”
Elias’s expression hardened.
“What board?”
“Willow Crest?”
“Or Summit Ridge?”
Patricia looked startled.
“I didn’t say—”
Carl called from near the cabin.
“Patricia.”
She started away.
Then stopped.
“Vivien wants the whole area looking the same before the end of the year.”
Elias caught the words.
“The whole area?”
Patricia’s face changed.
She knew immediately she had said too much.
Before she could answer, Vivien was beside them.
“Patricia.”
The name carried warning.
Patricia stepped back.
Vivien smiled brightly at Elias.
“We’re finished.”
Ten minutes later they were gone.
Elias stood beside the gate.
The Willow Crest maintenance truck reversed toward the county road.
The SUV followed.
He watched until both disappeared behind the development’s stone entrance columns.
Then he looked across his pasture.