“I didn’t know that.”
“Last week I found a child inside the lower pasture.”
Rebecca’s face changed.
“Was he hurt?”
“No.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Exactly.”
Garrett wiped his hands.
“If I let the road become public in practice, eventually somebody gets hurt. Then everybody asks why I allowed it.”
Rebecca looked toward the wall.
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Most people don’t have to. It isn’t their land.”
She left more thoughtful than she arrived.
Victoria, meanwhile, treated the project as provocation.
At that Thursday’s HOA office hours, she raised the issue with the association attorney.
The attorney reviewed the subdivision map.
Then Garrett’s parcel.
Then the public right-of-way.
Finally, he asked:
“What exactly do you want the association to challenge?”
“The wall.”
“On what basis?”
“It affects neighborhood access.”
“Do we have access?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Historically.”
“Recorded?”
“We’re researching.”
The attorney looked at her.
“How long has the neighborhood existed?”
“Sixteen years.”
“How long has the road been used by residents?”
“People have crossed it.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Victoria’s voice tightened.
“Recently there’s been more use.”
“With the owner’s permission?”
“Not always.”
The attorney closed the file.
“That is not a strong position.”