He paused.
"And now they're asking me to give up part of the farm because they don't like looking at it."
Richard stood.
"That's not what we're asking."
Eli turned.
"Then what are you asking?"
Richard didn't answer.
Claire stood next.
"I'd like to speak."
Everyone turned.
Richard's face changed.
Claire walked to the microphone.
"I live in Willow Ridge."
She looked nervous.
"I moved there because I wanted a safe place for my family."
She glanced at Eli.
"But I don't believe safety requires destroying everything around us."
The room became silent.
"The farm was here first."
Richard stood.
"Claire—"
She continued.
"I think we can coexist."
The meeting ended without a decision.
But outside, Richard confronted her.
"You embarrassed the community."
Claire looked at him.
"No."
She shook her head.
"I embarrassed you."
The barn burned three weeks later.
Eli woke to the sound of Emma screaming.
"Dad!"
He ran outside.
Flames climbed the old wooden roof.
The fire spread quickly.
Eli grabbed the hose.
Emma called 911.
Neighbors arrived.
Claire was among them.
The fire department fought for nearly an hour.
By dawn, half the barn was gone.
The machinery inside was destroyed.
The old photographs.
Tools.
His father's workbench.
Everything.
Eli stood in the ashes.
His hands trembled.
Emma touched his shoulder.
"We'll rebuild."
He shook his head.
"That was your grandfather's bench."
"I know."
"I promised I'd keep it."
"You did."
Eli looked at the ruins.
"Not well enough."
Sheriff Avery arrived.
He walked carefully through the debris.
"We found an accelerant container."
Eli looked at him.