The Farm Owner nodded.
“Good.”
She hesitated.
He pulled out his own phone.
“Already did.”
Her expression shifted.
For the first time, confidence weakened.
The Farm Owner tapped speaker.
The Sheriff answered.
“Farm Owner?”
“Morning.”
“You still need me?”
“Yes.”
The HOA President stared at the phone.
The Farm Owner continued:
“Vehicle’s still here. Owner arrived.”
The Sheriff said:
“I’m about five minutes out.”
The HOA President stepped closer.
“Tell him you lifted my vehicle into a tree.”
The Farm Owner looked at her.
Then at the phone.
“She says tell you the SUV is beside the oak.”
The Sheriff paused.
“Beside?”
The Farm Owner smiled faintly.
“You’ll understand.”
The Sheriff sighed.
“Don’t move anything.”
The Farm Owner looked toward the HOA President.
“Wasn’t planning to.”
The Sheriff added:
“And don't let anyone leave until I document the scene.”
The HOA President’s face changed completely.
The call ended.
She looked toward the county road.
Then back.
“You planned this.”
“No.”
“You’ve been waiting for an excuse.”
“No.”
“You wanted to humiliate me.”
The Farm Owner’s expression finally hardened.
“No.”
He pointed toward the barn.
“You blocked my Veterinarian during a livestock emergency.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“A cow was in distress.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You received three calls.”
“I was at dinner.”
“You left the SUV overnight.”
“I had wine.”
The Farm Owner stared.
That explanation somehow made it worse.
She continued:
“I made the responsible choice.”
“By abandoning the car on somebody else’s farm?”
“I intended to retrieve it this morning.”
“Meanwhile, nobody could get through.”
“You could’ve called me.”
“I did.”
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
The Farm Owner continued:
“Three calls.”
“Voicemail.”
“Message.”
“Same warning I’ve given you repeatedly.”
The HOA President looked toward the barn.
Then the SUV.
“You still had no right.”
“Maybe.”
That answer surprised her.
The Farm Owner continued:
“That’s why the Sheriff’s coming.”
The Sheriff arrived in a marked county SUV.
He slowed dramatically when he saw the scene.
Then stopped.
For several seconds, he remained behind the wheel.
The Farm Owner could see him looking at the white SUV.
Then the oak.
Then the tractor.
Then back at the SUV.
Finally, the Sheriff stepped out.
He removed his hat.
Looked upward.
“Farm Owner.”
“Morning.”
The Sheriff pointed.
“Explain.”
The HOA President rushed forward.
“He vandalized my vehicle!”
The Sheriff looked at her.
“Any damage?”
She stopped.
“I don't know.”