The missing cow was found that afternoon near the creek.
It had fallen into a drainage ditch.
Eli and Emma pulled it out together.
The animal was shaken but alive.
As they walked back toward the barn, Emma noticed something caught on the fence.
A strip of dark blue fabric.
She pulled it loose.
"Dad."
Eli examined it.
Work jacket material.
"That's not mine."
"No."
Emma looked toward the subdivision.
"Whose is it?"
Eli didn't answer.
That night, he called Sheriff Tom Avery.
Tom had grown up three miles away and knew the Harland family.
"I'll look into it," Tom said.
"Thank you."
"But Eli..."
"What?"
"Don't start a war."
Eli looked through the kitchen window.
"I'm not starting anything."
Tom sighed.
"That's what everybody says before they do."
Her name was Claire Bennett.
Eli met her at the county feed store.
She was struggling with a fifty-pound bag of chicken feed.
He picked it up.
"Where do you want it?"
She looked surprised.
"Truck."
Eli carried it outside.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
He recognized her.
"You live in Willow Ridge."
Claire hesitated.
"Yes."
Eli placed the bag down.
"Number?"
"Twenty-six."
He nodded.
"You've got chickens?"
"Three."
He looked at the feed.
"Three chickens don't need fifty pounds."
She smiled.
"I have more now."
"How many?"
"Eight."
"Then you'll need two bags."
She laughed.
It was the first time Eli had heard anyone from Willow Ridge laugh around him.
Claire leaned against her truck.
"I've heard about you."
"I've heard about you too."
"What have you heard?"
"That you hate farmers."
She smiled.
"I don't."