THE CORNFIELD AT MILLER VALLEY
Chapter I: The Red Suit in the Dirt
The midday sun beat down mercilessly over the endless golden cornfields of Miller Valley, casting sharp shadows across the cleared dirt trail where a tractor stood idling in the distance.
Standing in the freshly tilled soil, holding the handles of a vintage walk-behind sickle-bar mower, was Frank Miller. Dressed in blue denim overalls over a faded plaid work shirt and scuffed boots, Frank wiped the sweat from his brow, his weathered face calm despite the confrontation unfolding before him.
Blocking his path in high heels sinking into the loose dirt was Victoria Sterling, the aggressive president of the newly developed Oakridge Estates HOA. Dressed in a sharp scarlet-red pantsuit, clutching a white plastic binder to her chest, Victoria pointed a manicured finger straight at Frank's chest as she shrieked:
"This entire field belongs to the HOA! Remove him now!"
Standing between them with both arms outstretched to keep the peace was Deputy Rodriguez, wearing his tan county sheriff uniform and duty belt, flanked by two squad cars parked along the distant tree line.