Page 13 of The Forbidden Mountain Man Lumberjack
Back to business. Good. Safe territory.
"Liam said you asked a lot of questions."
"That's my job." She leans forward slightly. "And I learned a lot. Your operation is impressive, Wyatt, but there are clear opportunities for improvement in coordination and scheduling."
"And let me guess, you've got a software solution for that."
"Several, actually." Her eyes light up with enthusiasm. "There are programs designed specifically for logging operations that would integrate perfectly with your selective harvesting approach."
The genuine passion in her voice catches me off guard. She really does believe in what she's selling.
"How much would all this fancy software cost?" I ask.
"Less than you're currently losing in inefficiencies." She reaches into her bag and pulls out her ever-present notebook. "Based on what I observed today, I estimate you're losing approximately fifteen percent of potential profit due to coordination issues alone."
"Fifteen percent?" I can't keep the skepticism from my voice.
"At minimum." She flips her notebook around, showing me calculations and observations written in neat, precise handwriting. "Three trucks sat idle for over an hour today waiting for the right load. That's wages, fuel, and opportunity cost."
I study her notes, irritated to find they make sense. "We've always had some downtime. Nature of the business."
"But it doesn't have to be." Her expression is earnest, no trace of smugness or condescension. "What if your crews could communicate in real-time? What if dispatching was automated based on load readiness?"
Before I can respond, Maggie arrives with our food—massive burgers with a mountain of fries, exactly what we both need after a long day in the field.
"Enjoy, you two." Maggie gives me a pointed look before departing, and I know I'll be getting questions next time I come in alone.
Sophia takes a bite of her burger and makes a sound of appreciation that sends heat crawling up my neck. "This is incredible," she mumbles around the mouthful.
"Told you. Best in three counties."
We eat in companionable silence for a few minutes, both hungrier than we realized. I watch her demolish half her burgerwith surprising efficiency for someone her size, and I fight another smile.
"What?" she asks, catching me staring.
"Nothing." I push a fry through ketchup. "Just didn't expect you to have such a healthy appetite."
"Field work burns calories." She wipes her mouth with a napkin. "And I haven't eaten since that protein bar at noon."
I frown. "Liam should have made sure you got lunch."
"It's fine. I told him I wasn't hungry." She takes another bite, then asks, "How was your day? Different section, you said?"
"North ridge. We're thinning some areas that are at risk for fire." I find myself explaining the details of our fire prevention strategy, how selective cutting creates natural firebreaks without destroying the ecosystem.
She listens intently, asking intelligent questions about our approach. Before I know it, we're deep in conversation about forest management, fire science, and the balance between harvesting and conservation.
"You know a lot for a business consultant," I say as we finish our meal.
She shrugs, but I catch the pleased look in her eyes. "I research every industry I work with thoroughly. Plus, my dad was a forest ranger before he worked for the lumber mill. I grew up with some of this terminology."
"You never mentioned that."
"You never asked." She tilts her head. "Does it matter?"
It shouldn't, but somehow it does. Knowing she has a personal connection to forestry changes something, makes her less of an outsider.
"It explains why you asked better questions than most consultants would."
