"You removed it?" Sheriff Vance’s voice rose, incredulous. "Ma'am, you demolished the one thing keeping your easement alive!"
Evelyn blinked, caught off guard for a fraction of a second, before her face twisted back into defensive contempt. "What are you babbling about? We have rights! The developer board has rights!"
"Let me educate you on property law in Harlan County," Sheriff Vance said, his gravelly voice carrying authoritatively across the valley. "The legal easement granting your subdivision temporary access through this valley road was explicitly tied to the maintenance and preservation of the historic Tanner Creek crossing. It is an easement appurtenant with conditional upkeep. Under state property code, if the party holding the right-of-way intentionally demolishes or abandons the qualifying structure without county approval, the easement is legally extinguished by cessation of purpose."
Evelyn’s grip on her purse tightened until her knuckles turned white. "That’s absurd! The developer’s attorneys will have your badge for this!"