Standing calmly opposite her on the gravel was Sheriff Marcus Vance. Impeccably turned out in his tan Harlan County Sheriff uniform, complete with an active bodycam mounted squarely on his chest, he held his smartphone in one hand, calmly reviewing county land deeds and digital surveyor maps. Behind him, his patrol cruiser sat with its amber caution lights flashing quietly.
"Your easement paperwork filed with the registrar specifies access via Tanner Creek Crossing, Ms. Cross," Sheriff Vance replied, his tone steady, professional, and devoid of the agitation she was trying to provoke. He turned his phone screen toward her, displaying the highlighted satellite boundary map. "It states clearly that ingress and egress are contingent upon that designated route."
Evelyn scoffed, tossing her blonde hair back with dismissive arrogance. "We removed that bridge last month because it was unsafe! We didn't want the liability of old wooden planks, so the development company had it taken down. That has nothing to do with this gate!"
Sheriff Vance looked up from the screen, his eyebrows shooting up in utter disbelief. He stepped forward, gesturing emphatically at the padlocked gate and then pointing toward the ravine down the road.