Page 2 of Pitch for You

I sighed heavily, the weight of the world on my shoulders. Not only was I grieving for my mother, but I also inherited the responsibility of managing the entire ranch – overseeing employees, finances, and maintenance. The ranch was my family's legacy, and I couldn't afford to let it crumble under my watch. But balancing my duties at the ranch with being a single mother to Max was proving to be a challenge.

As I worked, a promise came that I would find a way to balance it all – for Max, for my mother, and for myself. And although the road ahead seemed treacherous, fear couldn’t hold me back any longer. It was time to trust myself, to embrace the challenges, and to learn from my mistakes. Only then could I truly honor my mother's legacy and create a brighter future for my family.

An hour later, I took Max inside to make dinner. I was so tired from trying to fix everything today that I settled for macaroni and cheese. I felt bad, but it was already seven and Max would be going to bed in an hour. Making a full meal now would be wasteful.

“I know you wanted homemade biscuits and gravy tonight, but we’ll do that tomorrow. Okay?”

Max hung his head. “Okay. As long as you promise.”

“Promise, honey.”

After consuming dinner, I stood on the porch, watching him play for thirty more minutes before bed and surveying the land that was now my responsibility. The property sprawled out across rolling hills and verdant pastures, dotted with grazing cattle and clusters of crops. To the east, I could see the stables where the prized horses were housed, and beyond them, the fields of wheat and corn that stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Mom?” Max's voice floated up from the yard below, drawing my attention away from the breathtaking view. I watched as he carefully approached one of the cows, his dark brown eyes wide.

“Be careful,” I called out, instinctively protective. “Remember what I told you about approaching the animals.”

Max nodded, slowly extending a tentative hand toward the cow's velvety flank. “I remember, Mom. You said to let them know I'm here and not to make any sudden movements.”

“Good boy,” I praised, heart swelling with love for my intelligent and curious child. I descended the porch steps, joining Max in the yard, boots crunching softly against the gravel path.

“Are you getting used to living on the ranch?” I was aware of the adjustments my son had to make since leaving our city life behind.

“I guess so.” Max stroked the cow's back as it contentedly chewed its cud. “It's different, but there are so many cool things to explore.”

“Like what?” I probed, eager to understand his thoughts and feelings during this transition.

“Like the big oak tree by the creek, and the secret hideout I found in the hayloft,” Max enthused, his face lighting up. “And the horses! I've never been so close to a real horse before.”

“Would you like me to teach you how to ride one day?” I asked, taking his hand in mine.

“Really? You'd do that?”

“Of course, sweetheart. We’ll make time for it,” I promised, making a silent vow to find a balance between the duties at the ranch and my role as a loving mother. “Now, how about we head inside. You should get ready for bed.”

“Mom, I really love it here,” Max said, pulling me into him.

I had no idea if we would be here long-term. I was looking for someone to stay on the property and take care of the day to day things, but for some reason no one seemed interested right now. “Not sure, buddy. Get to bed and we’ll take a look at your homework in the morning. Love you.”

The ranch would be difficult, but I could do it. My mother did it by myself for many years, but the thought of maintaining its legacy grew with each passing day.

Max was inside the house, laying in front of the TV with Spot. It melted my heart to know even when I wasn’t able to be around that he had a friend. A companion.

“I’ll be right back buddy.”

As I walked down the hallway, I stopped in the doorway of my mothers old bedroom. It was so empty and quiet. Regrets of not making it back to visit as often before she passed settled in tightly.

I wish you were here to guide me.

“Mommy?” Max's small voice sounded behind me. “What are we doing in Grandma's room?”

I wiped my eyes quickly and turned to face my son, forcing a smile onto my lips. “We're just taking a moment to remember her, sweetheart. She loved this ranch so much, and now it's our turn to take care of it for her.”

“Are you sad?”

“Sometimes.” I crouched down to look at him eye-to-eye. “But I know that your grandma would want us to be brave and strong, just like she was.”

Max nodded, his dark brown eyes settled on mine. “I’ll help you, Mommy. I promise.”

---