I stopped. "What?"
"You cannot mow this area."
I looked around my yard.
"This section is under preservation review."
"By who?"
"Brookstone."
"No."
"It's protected landscaping."
"It's grass."
"You were notified."
"I was also notified my tractor violates your visual standards."
"This is serious."
"So is hay season."
She stepped in front of the mower. I turned it off completely—no reason to make things unsafe. "Move, please."
"I'm calling the police."
"For what?"
"Trespassing."
That is how we ended up with two deputies standing in my yard while Linda demanded I be arrested for mowing my own ranch. And that is how Rachel found the fake acquisition documents.
But the biggest shock came later that evening. The HOA board called an emergency meeting. One board member, Charles Bennett, contacted me directly.
"Daniel, did you take an $800,000 deposit?"
"No."
Silence. "You're sure?"
"I would remember."
He sounded sick. "We transferred it six weeks ago."
"Where?"
"To Blue Ridge Land Partners." Linda's husband's company.
My stomach tightened. "Why?"
"We were told they represented your sale."
"They don't."
Charles went quiet. Then he said, "There's more."
"Of course. What?"
"The board approved preliminary financing for Phase Three."
"How much?"
"Twelve million."
I sat down. "For what?"
"Land purchase, roads, and thirty-two homes on your ranch."
"Did you verify with me?"