Page 9 of Pitch for You

“Hey, little one! Are you ready for our adventure today?”

He held out his hand for me and I took it without hesitation. We walked toward the stables where two horses were waiting for us.

“I hope you’re ready for your first lesson,” I said as we approaches the horses.

“I couldn’t sleep last night.”

I showed him how to properly saddle and mount his horse, giving him tips on how to handle the reigns and sit comfortably in the saddle. Once we were both mounted, I led us out of the stables and onto one of the many trails that ran through the ranch.

Max seemed completely at ease on his horse and took in everything I taught him with eager enthusiasm. It was clear he genuinely wanted to learn so he could help out around the ranch.

“My mommy is still so sad. I thought being here would help.”

Sofia might not realize he was so perceptive. “Losing your grandma was hard on her. They were close. It’s going to take some time for her to get back to normal.”

We stride through the meadow, but something else was going on. Max wasn’t his happy self today. The silence was deafening.

“Are you okay? I know everyone here has been helping your mom through this, but how are you?”

He looks over at me. “I miss my dad.”

It also broke my heart to see him longing for a father figure. I knew a thing or two about that – my own father had run out on me when I was just a young boy. But through Max, I saw a chance to make things right. I could be the father figure I never had.

“That’s to be expected. What do you miss the most?”

His eyes glistened. “We used to go fishing before his new job. Mom didn’t come. It was just us.”

The young boy was breaking my heart in two. Sofia might not have explained exactly what happened with his dad, but someone needed to step up for him. He was at the age where he needed a good male role model.

“Well, anytime you wanna go fishing, you just let me know. I haven’t been in months, but I’d gladly take you.”

He nodded and we picked up the pace. It was clear our conversation was over, but he seemed in better spirits. Maybe this was what he needed. To have someone other than his mother to talk to.

We rode for two hours, stopping only to take breaks and grab some snacks that Max packed in a small bag. He was full ofquestions about every aspect of ranch life and I answered them all the best I could.

The stables came into view and we dropped them off with Jake and headed toward the house. Sofia was on the porch enjoying the breeze when we arrived.

“Did you boys have fun?”

Max ran up and hugged her. “The most! Thank you for letting me go. Can we do it again?”

Sofia nodded and instructed him to go play in the yard. “I’ll go make something to drink. I’ll be right back.”

I sat on the porch swing, rocking gently back and forth as I watched Max play in the yard. Sofia emerged from the house, a tray of iced tea in her hands.

“Hey,” she said, smiling as she handed me a glass.

“Hey,” I replied, taking a sip and savoring the cool sweetness. “Thanks.”

Sofia joined me on the swing, watching Max chase after a butterfly.

“Your son is one hell of a boy. So inquisitive about everything. He’s going to be a great rancher one day.”

She took a sip and looked over at me. “He’s having some rough days. He’s been asking questions about his father… which is understandable. I don’t know how to break the news to him.”

A part of me wanted to bring up the conversation with Max today, but she had so much on her plate already. The least I could do was help her navigate these treacherous waters. “He’ll come to you and ask questions when he is ready. Kids are good like that.”

“I wanted to thank you for taking the afternoon with him. He’s excited to have someone here to do things with. And it means a lot to me.”

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