Ellis read silently.
Then handed it to Eli.
The numbers matched the safe survey.
For the first time, Eli felt something stronger than curiosity.
Certainty.
Not legal certainty.
But historical certainty.
The map described a real system.
The markers had existed on the land.
The water channel was not merely an old ditch someone casually dug.
It had been surveyed.
Measured.
Marked.
That Sunday morning, Calvin Rusk's black Chevrolet pickup pulled into the Mercer yard.
Eli saw it from the barn.
His stomach tightened.
Calvin stepped out alone.
Clean shirt.
Polished boots.
No auction smile.
Ellis walked from the machine shed.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Calvin looked toward the house.
"Could we talk?"
Ellis said, "We're talking."
Calvin glanced toward Eli.
"Private matter."
Ellis shrugged.
"He lives here."
Calvin exhaled.
"I heard you found papers in the Harland safe."
Eli and Ellis exchanged a glance.
That information had traveled quickly.
"Who told you?"
Calvin smiled faintly.
"County's small."
Ellis said nothing.
Calvin continued.
"I'd like to see them."
"No."
"Why?"
"They aren't yours."
"They came from property connected to land negotiations I'm involved in."
"Still aren't yours."
Calvin kept his temper.
"I understand there may be old water records."
Ellis's eyes sharpened.
"You know more than rumor."
Calvin paused.
Then changed approach.
"Old agricultural agreements are complicated."
"Sometimes families remembered arrangements that were never legally recorded."
"Sometimes old surveys conflict with later deeds."
"I can save you trouble."
Eli watched him.
Calvin did not ask whether the documents existed.
He already believed they did.
Ellis asked:
"How?"
Calvin reached into his shirt pocket.
He removed a folded piece of paper.
"I'll buy the safe and everything found inside."
"For how much?"
"Five hundred."
Eli almost reacted.
Forty dollars to five hundred in a week.
Ellis did not move.
"No."
"One thousand."
Eli stared.
Calvin continued.
"Cash."
"Today."
Ellis said:
"No."
Calvin's jaw tightened.
"Think carefully."
"I have."
"You owe on equipment."
Ellis said nothing.
"Crop looks weak."
Still nothing.
"Margaret could use security."
Eli felt anger rise.
Ellis held one hand slightly behind him.
Stay quiet.
Calvin said:
"I'm not threatening anybody."
"I'm offering to remove a problem."
Ellis looked directly at him.
"What problem?"
Calvin realized the mistake.
He smiled.
"Confusion."
"Those old papers may create confusion."
Ellis said:
"Then the county can help us understand them."
For the first time, Calvin's expression changed.
Barely.
But Eli saw it.
Calvin said:
"I wouldn't rush."
"Why not?"
"Legal disputes cost money."
"So does buying documents you claim don't matter."
Silence.