Page 72 of Entwined Hearts
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he lied through his smile. He grabbed Sterling’s elbow. “Come on, they aren’t worth the energy.”
I looked up at Levi once they were gone. “Thanks. I’m sure that wasn’t easy.”
He shrugged. “It was either Weston or me, and we all know he likes to talk with his fists.” I chuckled while he went back to his seat.
“Savannah, long time no see.” I turned to find Roger approaching with a smug grin. He was all trust fund baby bravado in his Armani suit as he extended his hand.
“Hopefully, I never have to see your sellout face again after this,” I said through my smile, shaking his hand.
His grip on me tightened, nearing the point of pain. His smile went from arrogant to sinister. “Oh, I wouldn’t count on that.”
I ripped my hand out of his as the judge entered the courtroom. I felt a flicker of relief seeing it was an older woman. But that didn’t necessarily mean that Sterling hadn’t bought her off. “Guess we’re about to find out.”
“Counselor Hayes,” Judge Lancaster began after explaining the reason we were all here, “you may begin.”
I took a steadying breath and stood, stepping out from behind my table towards the bench. “Your Honor, I’m here today on behalf of Golden Circle Ranch, a newly combined business between Circle M Ranch and Golden Bridle. My clients and I are requesting approval under AG-R zoning for expansion efforts, including livestock rearing, equine training and breeding, and a veterans’ outreach program offering equine-assisted therapy.”
I turned to the zoning board and spotted William Beckham, one of Sterling’s good friends, and the one who had the most sway on the board. “These plans adhere to Section 4.2.5 of the AG-R District Code, which permits single-family dwellings, cultivation of crops, livestock management, and horse keeping, as well as ‘structures incidental to agricultural use’. Our outreach center is one of these structures.”
Roger stood with a smug smile, doing up the buttons on his suit. “And yet, Miss Hayes, you’re requesting commercial licenses and expanding public services. Doesn’t that suggest intent beyond private agricultural use?”
I wanted to roll my eyes, but didn’t. I turned to Judge Lancaster. “It doesn’t, Your Honor,” I replied. “Under Subsection B, educational and therapeutic programs conducted as support services to livestock or equine operations are allowed. The equine therapy program isn’t a commercial facility; it’s an extension of our training and breeding efforts and utilizes the same land and horses.”
Roger scoffed, looking at me and the board like I was insane. “So we’re to believe hosting veterans on-site for therapy falls within livestock usage? Sounds like a stretch to me.” Some of the board members laughed quietly.
I wrenched my jaw. “Yes, when those therapy sessions involve structured equine interaction, per the guidelines of agricultural therapeutic use cases already recognized in neighboring counties.”
He shook his head at his table, smiling to himself like he’d already won. “And what about the arena facilities? The training spaces? Don’t they reek of commercial exploitation? How will that impact the area? The town of Wild Creek?”
Was he serious? Or just stupid?
“You don’t care about our town, and neither does that Colonel Sanders lookin’ fool, Hollis!” someone yelled from theback of the courtroom, earning a few cheers and yells in agreement. I bit back a laugh when I realized the voice sounded like Louise.
Judge Lancaster swung her gavel. “Order in the court.”
“The arenas are incidental structures, Your Honor,” I said when the chaos died down, going back to my table to pull copies of the code. I gave a copy to dumb as nails Roger and Judge Lancaster. “They’re permitted under 3.6.2: ‘barns, silos, stables, or other structures directly related to equine or agricultural function.’ They aren’t event venues. They’re for training, breeding, and therapy.”
The judge nodded slowly, scanning the page. I glanced to the right, where the zoning board members sat. One whispered to another. A few were looking to Beckham, and he shook his head subtly.
Panic flared in my chest. It wasn’t enough. Even with all the facts, it wasn’t enough to convince them.
I went back to my seat, flipping through my binder, Roger’s sneering chuckle just loud enough for me to hear. There was a tap on my leg. I looked down and found a pale yellow sticky note. It was Levi.
I glanced at the judge and Roger, both of them distracted, so I snatched the note up. Unfolding the paper, I scanned it quickly: “County Ordinance 8.13.1 - Zoning Adjustments for Veteran Rehabilitation. 2011 amendment.”
My breath caught. I flipped through the codebook, finding the amendment, and skimmed it to jog my memory. This was it. This was how I would win this. I knew it in my bones, especially when I saw who signed off on it.
“Your Honor,” I said, stepping forward, my heart pounding. “I’d like to submit a supplemental argument based on County Ordinance 8.13.1, which allows for zoning in AG-R districts when the use involves registered non-profits offeringrehabilitation services for veterans. Golden Circle’s outreach program has filed for 501(c) nonprofit status and already has a letter of intent from licensed equine therapist, Delilah Chase.”
Roger’s face paled, and he straightened. “Your Honor, that amendment doesn’t override the land use issue, which is?—”
“Itenhancespermitted use,” I said, grabbing the printouts Levi had somehow gotten into my binder; he was magic or something. I gave the judge her copy and sauntered over to Rodger, not letting his copy go when he tried to take it. “And it was signed into law by your client’s own good friend on the zoning board, William Beckham.” I wanted to sign off that little tidbit of information with my middle finger in his face, but knew that’d get me thrown out.
Roger looked like he was about to explode, yanking the paper out of my hand. As I walked back to my table, Weston shot me a wink that ebbed some of the adrenaline making my insides shake.
I faced the judge, practically vibrating with the taste of victory on my tongue. “Given the facts, I hope you can see, Your Honor, that Golden Circle’s expansion doesnotexceed the permitted scope of AG-R use as the plaintiff claims.”
Judge Lancaster sat back, her hands clasped on her desk. “Thank you, Miss Hayes. I believe I’ve heard enough. We’ll reconvene in ten minutes after I’ve met with the zoning board in my chambers.” She slammed her gavel, and I nearly fell back into the table with relief that it was out of my hands now.
