"Someday he'll pretend he understood all of this without me," Harlon said, pointing at Warren.
"I understand it fine. I just don't enjoy it."
"That's different."
They negotiated protections Warren cared about that Claire initially considered minor. Access routes had to avoid interfering with farm equipment on adjacent acreage. Long-term management obligations needed clear boundaries so Casey was not unknowingly inheriting undefined responsibilities. Hunting and fishing rights were addressed specifically. The agreement required advance notice before major monitoring visits and preserved Warren's ability to maintain the surrounding farm without seeking permission for ordinary agricultural operations outside the easement.
"You'd think we're negotiating a peace treaty," Casey said after the third revision.
Warren looked at the forty-page draft. "Land lasts longer than people. Paper should be careful."
Agency review took months.
The first round came back with comments requiring additional groundwater data, revised performance standards, changes to planting plans, and a more conservative credit estimate. Warren watched Claire read the comment letter and expected frustration.
Instead she nodded.
"This is normal."
"Normal is thirty-two comments?"
"Normal is them caring enough to make thirty-two comments."
The project team revised the plan.
Renata's monitoring showed that groundwater influence and topography could support the restored system even after upstream corrections reduced artificial inflow. Engineers redesigned shallow features to reconnect water across the low flat without recreating the damaging concentrated discharge. The planting plan emphasized native species suited to varying depths rather than trying to make every acre look the same.
Casey became increasingly involved.
She attended technical calls, maintained the site's photographic record, and learned enough terminology to understand when she needed to ask questions rather than pretending she followed every detail. Claire began assigning her small tasks directly: organize baseline photos, check landowner records, compare field maps, verify dates.
Warren noticed.
"You working for her now?"
"No."
"She's giving you work."
"I'm helping our project."
"That's how work starts."
Casey laughed. "You worried I'm going to leave?"
Warren adjusted the brim of his cap. "Hadn't crossed my mind."
It had crossed his mind constantly.
By spring, nearly a year after the first flooding, the agencies approved the mitigation banking instrument subject to final site protection and construction conditions. The number of anticipated credits was lower than the earliest optimistic scenario. Claire considered that a success.