Pitch For You (Texas Heat)

Chapter 6

6

Brett

I always dreamed of getting a second chance with Sofia, the one that got away. Hell I’d been in love with her since the moment I saw her, with her curls and fiery spirit. But circumstances, as they often do, had kept us apart for years. Until now.

Today, I had plans to spend most of the day with Max after finishing all my tasks for the ranch. It only took me a couple of hours and then Max was waiting for me outside, dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a plaid shirt.

“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 of questions 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.”

“I’ll do anything for you… you know that.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Listen, as much as I know the chemistry is still there between us… I just don’t think I’m ready to let someone else in right now.” Sofia looked up at me. “It’s not just about Max. It’s my heart too. It still hurts from you leaving and with everything else going on… it’s just not the right time.”

“I want to make things right between us. I know I messed up in the past, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

She looked down at our joined hands and took a deep breath. “I’ve been through a lot since we last saw each other. Max’s father…”

“I understand. Let me show you how much I care about you. Before we dated, we were friends too. Even if not right now, I’m a patient man especially for the woman I’ve been waiting to come back to me for over a decade. I love you.”

Sofia looked up at me, tears glistening in her eyes. “I love you too, but love doesn’t conquer all. I wish it did.”

We sat there on the porch swing for a few moments, holding each other and letting our emotions flow.

Suddenly, Max ran up to us with a handful of dandelions.

“Look what I found!” he exclaimed, holding them up for us to see.

“They’re beautiful,” Sofia said with a smile, wiping away her tears.

“Can we go put them in a vase?” Max asked.

“Of course,” Sofia replied with a laugh as we all got up and headed inside together.

As we arranged the dandelions in a small vase on the kitchen table, Sofia turned to me with a small smile on her face.

“I can’t say yes to you right now, but someday when I’m ready to open my heart up to someone again… I’ll let you know.”

“Promise?”

She smiled. “Promise.”