Four million dollars.

It was more than twice what Shawn had tried to steal the place for.

It was enough that Colette would never have to work another day, enough to carry her and any children she had anywhere in the country they wished to go.

“Why deliver this yourself,” I asked, “in a rainstorm, instead of through the mail?”

“Because Evercrest files its site plan with the Hartwell County Zoning Commission on Monday,” Beaumont said, sliding into the smooth cadence of a man who sells land for a living.

“If your acreage isn’t in that plan, they’ll route their main service road right along your southern boundary.