Chapter 10: The Unraveling
By Friday afternoon, the pressure on Vance Development had become overwhelming. Local television news crews had gathered outside the company's glass-walled corporate offices in Oakhaven, broadcasting live reports about the contaminated well fields.
Julian spent the morning at the river cabin, helping Maya plant small tomato seedlings in a wooden box on the sunny side of the back porch. The quiet work in the fresh dirt was a welcome relief from the noise of the past week.
Around two o'clock, a blue sedan pulled up the gravel drive. Dr. Kenneth Harris stepped out, carrying a small leather medical bag.
"Dr. Harris," Julian said, standing up from the porch steps and wiping his dirt-stained hands on a rag. "What brings you all the way out here?"
"I was visiting a patient in the lower valley and thought I'd stop by to see how Maya is healing," Dr. Harris said, stepping up onto the wooden porch.
Maya ran over, showing him her dirt-covered hands. "Dr. Harris! We're planting tomatoes!"
"That looks like very important work, Maya," the doctor smiled, kneeling down to look at her back through the loose collar of her summer shirt. The angry crimson welts had faded to soft pink marks, much less inflamed than before.
"The skin is regenerating nicely," Dr. Harris said to Julian, standing back up. "No signs of secondary infection. The clean air and fresh spring water are doing her a world of good."
"Thanks to you catching it so quickly at the hospital," Julian said.
Dr. Harris looked out toward the river. "I heard about the board meeting last night. You did a good thing standing up there, Julian. People in this valley have been afraid to speak out against that company for twenty years."
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"I was just protecting my daughter," Julian said softly.
"Sometimes that’s what it takes to break a long silence," Dr. Harris said. He handed Julian a small tube of ointment. "Apply this twice daily for another week. She’ll be completely fine."
