Teacher's Christmas Cowboy (Trinity Falls Sweet Romance - Icicle Christmas #5)

“Strike,” the ump called out.

Cora saw Sylvester’s shoulders slump a little.

“That one was just a warm-up,” Jared yelled. “Now you’re ready for the real one.”

Sylvester squared his shoulders again, and the pitcher threw another good ball. But this time, Sylvester didn’t even try to hit it as it sailed right over the plate and into the catcher’s mitt.

“That’s two strikes,” she said worriedly to herself.

She had been to all the practices and she already knew that Sylvester was not a good baseball player, or as Jared liked to say, he wasn’t a good baseball player yet.

So far, he had just been so thrilled to be part of the team that he hadn’t seem to mind a bit when he wasn’t as skilled as some of the other players. But today, with parents here cheering, she could sense his longing for a chance to do well.

“He’s got this,” Jared told her.

“Here we go, Rocky, here we go,” the kids in the dugout yelled joyfully, thumping the ground twice with their feet. “Here we go, Rocky, here we go.”

Sylvester turned back to his team for a second, smiling so hard his eyes were crinkling in the shadow of his batting helmet.

When he faced the pitcher again, he was holding the bat at the ready, his posture more confident than ever. A shiver went down Cora’s spine at the sight. She had never seen him like this.

“Attaboy,” Jared murmured.

The ball sailed through the air a third time, and Sylvester swung at just the right moment. The bat connected with a mighty crack, sending it sailing across the field and over the heads of all the children in the outfield.

Sylvester had never, ever hit the ball like that in practice, and for a moment he stood frozen, as if he didn’t even know what to do.

“Run,” his teammates yelled. “Run, Rocky.”

He glanced up at his mother.

Cora’s heart was in her mouth. She felt herself rise to her feet without even meaning to.

“Run, son, run,” she screamed to him.

He came back to life in an instant and dashed for first base as the little girl darted to second, the boy on second base flew for third and the boy on third sprinted home.

The small crowd roared its approval, and Sylvester stood on first base, practically glowing.

“That was incredible,” Cora said, shaking her head as she smiled at their boy.

“I never thought I’d hear you scream at him to run,” Jared teased her gently. “Wonders never cease.”

“I’ve been trying some new things lately,” she said with a teasing smile of her own. “I think I like these adventures of ours.”

“Keep that feeling in mind when he sprains his ankle or gets hit with the ball,” Jared warned her. “A few bumps and bruises are part of the whole experience.”

“I’m starting to understand that some risks are worth it,” she told him seriously. “If they come with great rewards.”

“I’m glad you think of me as a reward,” Jared teased. “I can’t wait to tell my brothers.”

She gave him a little shove and they watched and cheered together as the next child went up to bat.

Life was sweet these days, even if she spent a little more time with her heart in her mouth.

When the game was over, Sylvester ran to them at top speed, and Jared swung him up in his arms.

“I’m super proud of you, champ,” he told him. “You hit that ball so hard, I thought it would go straight to Jupiter.”