They demanded that I stop everything immediately.
The letter threatened a lawsuit for more than $50,000.
Attached were forty-seven photographs of my property.
Someone had photographed my woodshed.
My mailbox.
My solar panels.
My workshop.
Even stacks of firewood.
I made coffee.
Then I laughed.
Twenty years in the military had taught me something important.
Never panic when someone hands you paperwork.
Read it.
Find the weakness.
Then respond.
I went to the county law library.
Three days later, I found what I needed.
Colorado law protected certain agricultural and rural activities that predated nearby residential development.
My woodworking operation was legally defensible.
I sent Kensington and Associates a one-page response.
No threats.
No insults.
Just facts.
Their client had no authority over my property.
Their accusations were unsupported.
And if they wanted a legal fight, I was ready.
But while I was fighting the HOA battle, my neighbors were discovering something much darker.
Walt and Elena came to my cabin one morning.
Derek had been offering people enormous amounts of money for their properties.
Cash.
Above-market prices.
Fast closings.
No inspections.
Elena had been offered $50,000 above market value.
Walt had seen Derek walking property lines at night with surveying equipment.
Suddenly, the HOA complaints made sense.
They weren't trying to control the valley.
They were trying to buy it.
Someone Was Watching
I installed trail cameras around my property.
I wanted evidence.
Not suspicion.
Not rumors.
Evidence.
The cameras were motion activated and connected to my phone.
Two days later, one of them alerted me at 2:17 a.m.
I opened the image.
A man in dark clothing was standing beside my shed.
He carried a crowbar.
I grabbed my flashlight and went outside.
The intruder was gone.
But the shed door had fresh pry marks.
Gasoline had been spilled beside the wall.
The next morning, another image arrived.
The same man was walking toward the road.
Then came the final photograph.
A vehicle.
A white Tesla.
And a license plate.
Derek High Tower's.
I stared at the screen.
The situation had changed.
This wasn't an HOA dispute anymore.
Someone was trying to destroy my property.
I called Deputy Rodriguez.
Then I called Walt.
By that evening, twelve neighbors were sitting in Walt's living room.
Everyone had a story.
Threats.
Cash offers.
Anonymous complaints.
Property inspections.
Pressure.
Intimidation.
Derek wasn't simply building houses.
He was systematically forcing people to sell.
And I was the one person standing in the way.
Then Brenda escalated again.
She filed a restraining order against me.
Her petition claimed that I was dangerous because of my military background.
She described me as unstable.
Armed.
Aggressive.
I looked at the paperwork.
Then I started building my evidence folder.
If Brenda wanted a war fought with documents, she had chosen a retired logistics officer.