Garrett replaced it with a heavier one.
He also installed a trail camera in a tree facing the entrance.
Two mornings later, the camera recorded Victoria’s SUV.
She stopped.
Got out.
Examined the latch.
Returned to the vehicle.
Then, using the front bumper carefully, she pushed against the gate until the post flexed enough for the latch to slip.
Garrett watched the footage twice.
The second viewing made him angrier than the first.
Not because of the damage.
Because of the deliberateness.
This was no misunderstanding.
No mistaken turn.
No forgotten request.
Victoria knew the boundary.
She simply disagreed that Garrett had the right to enforce it.
He called her.
“Victoria.”
“Garrett.”
“You damaged my gate.”
“I did no such thing.”
“I have video.”
Silence.
Then:
“The gate was already loose.”
“You pushed it with your SUV.”
“I nudged it.”
“You entered private property after I told you not to.”
“Garrett, this is becoming childish.”
He almost laughed.
“My gate?”
“This entire dispute.”
“You can end it.”
“How?”
“Stop driving through my ranch.”
Another silence.
Victoria sighed.
“There is a community-access issue here that you refuse to acknowledge.”
“No.”