Chapter 8 - The Confrontation At The Ranch
Two days later, the rolling green hills of Kerrville, Texas, were quiet as a thunderstorm gathered on the western horizon.
The Vance Ranch spanned two thousand acres of prime hill country land, complete with an historic limestone homestead built in 1880.
Richard stood on the wide stone porch, wearing a denim work shirt, boots, and a Stetson hat, holding a Winchester lever-action rifle across his arm.
Beside him sat his old military comrade, Marcus Vance, who had driven up from San Antonio with two heavy-duty pickup trucks.
Three black SUVs pulled down the long gravel driveway, kicking up clouds of white dust as they approached the homestead.
Marcus Sterling stepped out of the lead vehicle, wearing a tailored navy suit that looked completely out of place against the rugged terrain.
Behind him were four private security guards wearing dark tactical shirts, their hands resting near their waistbands.
"Richard Vance!" Sterling called out, standing thirty yards from the porch steps. "I have a legal court order issuing an immediate land survey for Apex Holdings!"
Richard didn't raise the rifle; he simply rested his hand against the receiver, his silver hair blowing in the rising wind.
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"You're trespassing on private agricultural land, Mr. Sterling," Richard called back, his voice echoing across the open pasture.
"And in Kerr County, we don't take kindly to Houston lawyers bringing forged paper onto our soil."
