Conner shrugged. Gotta give Mrs. Owl back her house. And well reimburse the university for the equipment that was destroyed, of course.
Really? The ranger took off her hat, scratched her head, as if shed never encountered someone so agreeable.
They hiked back to the road, where Conner informed the landowner that no more timber would be harvested until Conner himself had re-marked the trees to be takendoing it right, this time. Well start in the area thats farthest from the owl nest, and well make sure not to disturb that area any more than necessary. And, like I said before, well compensate you for the extra trees taken above and beyond what was contracted. He took out his phone, punched a few keys, then showed the screen to Mr. Whatley. Would that amount be acceptable to you?
Mr. Whatley tipped his hat back. I expect so.
You should have a check in your hands no later than next Friday.
What about me? the lumberjack said. Me and my crew gonna sit around on our thumbs till the trees are re-marked?
Youll be back to work by Monday, and youll be paid for the downtime.
Everyone nodded, and then they just stood there. Theyd come fired up to do battle with Conner, yet that hadnt proved necessary. It was like a pall of anticlimax had fallen on the group.
Conner rubbed his hands together. If thats everything, then, Ive got work to do. Ill use red paint to mark the trees. He addressed the lumberjack. Tell your team to ignore blue paint, cut red paint.
Yes, sir, Mr. Blake. He and his men piled into an SUV, so covered in dust it was hard to tell the color, and bounced away.