Not even Harold.
Emily felt no satisfaction.
That surprised her.
For weeks she had imagined being proven right.
In her imagination, it felt like relief.
Maybe vindication.
Instead, she felt cold beneath the brutal Kansas sun.
Harold finally laughed.
Weak.
“That doesn't mean I connected it.”
Perez answered:
“Invoice includes installation.”
Harold turned toward him.
“You saying I stole county water?”
Perez remained careful.
“I’m saying this pipe was purchased under your name and installed through an easement on your property.”
“It later connects your private reservoir to the county line.”
“We still need to determine configuration and dates of use.”
Good.
Emily noticed the precision.
No conclusions beyond evidence.
Harold did not.
He pointed toward Emily.
“This is her doing.”
Everyone looked at him.
Emily stared.
“What?”
“You set this up.”
She almost laughed.
“You think I buried four hundred yards of pipe across your land?”
“You knew where to look.”
“No.”
“The pressure knew where to look.”
Harold stepped toward her.
Sheriff Reeves moved between them.
“That’s enough.”
Harold stopped.
The sheriff looked at him.
“Nobody here is under arrest.”
“Not yet.”
“We're investigating.”
Harold looked furious.
“Investigating me.”
“We're following a pipe.”
The sheriff pointed toward the trench.
“It happens to run into your property.”
Harold’s face reddened.
“My father installed irrigation lines all over this farm.”
Perez said:
“This pipe was manufactured sixteen years after your father died.”
Silence.
Walter closed his eyes briefly.
Samuel stared at the ground.
Harold looked toward them.
“You two believe this?”
Neither answered.
That hurt him more than accusation.
He turned back to Emily.
“You think you're clever.”
She stared.
“I think my field was getting water I couldn't explain.”
“So you blamed me.”
“No.”
“You blamed me.”
“You blamed me first.”
Harold stepped toward her again.
Sheriff Reeves held one arm out.
Emily continued.
“You told the county I was stealing.”
“You told neighbors.”
“You dragged my father into it.”
“I checked my own equipment before I said one word about yours.”
Harold’s jaw worked.
“But your field benefited.”
Emily nodded.
“Yes.”
That answer surprised him.
She continued.
“Whatever that line was doing, pressure pushed water toward my junction.”
“I benefited.”
“I didn't know why.”
“That is not the same as stealing it.”
Perez added:
“She actually used less than her allocation.”
Harold looked toward him.
“How?”
Emily answered.
“Because my soil held moisture better.”
Perez nodded.
“And because backpressure stabilized her cycles.”
Walter looked confused.
“Explain.”
Perez crouched beside the junction.
“The illegal line appears to connect Harold’s private reservoir with the county main through an old pressure-control assembly.”
“When his private pump ran, part of the flow went where intended.”