The deputy glanced off toward the barn.

“Opening morning’s tomorrow,” I said.

“Which is exactly why the court is hearing emergency oral arguments at eleven,” Vance said, smiling without showing his teeth.

“If the judge signs the temporary restraining order, you can’t interfere with Brad’s hunting party while the easement claim is in litigation.”

By eleven, Patricia Haugen was sitting next to me at the polished oak table in the small emergency hearing room on the second floor of the Dunn County Courthouse.

Vance sat three feet off, smoothing the front of his suit jacket with his papers spread across the table.