Page 83 of Eco-Activist's Mountain Men
“And you rescued my banner, right? Toby, you told me that.”
“Yeah,” Toby admits. “It’s on top of your wardrobe. Folded and dry.”
“Perfect. Give me a few hours. I’ll need help with painting. Then tomorrow, we’ll rehang the banner.”
“Rehang it?” I frown. “But Luna, I thought?—”
“We won’t give him the message he expects. We’ll give him ours.” She looks straight at me. “Jack—I need Pat’s number. Trust me. It’s important.”
We glance at each other. Nobody knows what the hell she’s planning.
But she sure as hell does.
And something tells me… Collier’s not going to see it coming.
CHAPTER 24
Eric
It’s the morning of the helicopter visit, and to be honest, none of us is any clearer on Luna’s plan than we were a couple of days ago. Toby and I helped her with the banner. We flipped it upside down so we had just a plain white background, then painted, in huge block letters:UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT.
A fine sentiment—but unless we actually find an alternative buyer, I can’t see how that helps. I asked Luna, but she just smiled sweetly and told me to “shut my face and wait and see.”
The banner’s in place now, carefully positioned by Toby, who used the scissor lift to raise Jack into the canopy so he could tie it off at just the right height for maximum effect. It looks professional, the words snapping bright in the breeze. Considering it was hand-painted, it turned out surprisingly well. We outlined each letter first, then filled them in with red, waiting for the paint to dry before folding the canvas. Luna insisted we take our time, and she was right—the result is bold and unmistakable.
In the distance, I hear it: the steady thump of an approaching helicopter.
“Here he comes,” Toby calls, grinning like this is all some kind of prank he cooked up.
“Let’s get into position, boys.” Luna hustles us into the center of the clearing, right beneath the banner.
“Good. Me in the middle. Squeeze in—we want to make sure the cameraman can fit us all in the frame. Now… smile and wave!”
The chop of the rotors is deafening as Collier’s chopper hovers overhead. Dust whirls around us, but Luna’s undeterred. She blows extravagant kisses at the camera, while the rest of us wave with big grins plastered on our faces.
We can’t see the cameraman’s expression—his face hidden behind the lens—but the man seated beside him is unmistakable. Tim Collier. And he looks furious. Not just annoyed—livid.
The chopper hovers for a few moments, as if the pilot’s waiting for instructions. Then, without warning, it banks west and heads back toward Portland, shrinking fast into the horizon.
We all cheer.
“Okay, Luna, darling,” Jack says, his arm snug around her waist. His voice is calm, but I can hear the steel beneath it—the leader demanding answers now that the battle’s over. “You’ve had your fun. We trusted you, and whatever you’ve done seems to have worked. Spill—what did you do?”
“What did I do?” Her tone is playful.
“Yes,” Jack presses, dead serious. “Simple question. Tell us.”
“Yeah, come on, Luna,” Toby chimes in, eyes sparkling. “Don’t leave us hanging.”
“Well, if you must know…” She pauses, savoring the suspense. “I bought the company.”
Silence. Stunned, absolute silence. Even the trees seem to hold their breath.
“You did what?” Toby asks, laughing like he thinks this is one of his own jokes.
“I said, I bought the company.”
“What—you mean Mackenzie Forestry Services?” Jack asks, frowning like he’s sure he misheard.
