Free Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder

strangers once again. Brenda, realizing his rising fear, quickly followed with, “Hey, it’s really cold today. How about when we
all
get home, we will
all together
make hot chocolate with marshmallows …” Although visibly relieved, Jason knew something was up.
    Lord, this is it; please help heal what is left of this family
 … I prayed as I gently moved a very nervous young man and hisequally tense mother toward the lost remnant of what was once a family.
    Introductions flew back and forth in a tangled jumble of words, handshakes, and hugs. Everyone but Jason was acutely aware of the incredible impact that the next few moments would hold.
    I watched him as he looked up into the face of the man who was his real father … with absolutely no recognition at all. I could not even begin to imagine the shattering pain raining down within Travis’s heart at that moment. Travis bent down, took his sunglasses off and gently introduced himself.
    I could hardly believe what I was seeing once this man’s sunglasses were removed … there were revealed the most incredibly blue eyes … framed by the longest eyelashes I had ever seen. They, too, not only brushed his cheeks … but his brows as well. Wonder totally enveloped me as I watched near mirror images greet each other face to face.
    Sandy took Brenda’s kids and began tacking up Jasmine, an older, gray Appaloosa mare. I invited Travis to join Jason, Nathan (the youngest of Brenda’s kids), and me as we groomed and tacked up Teva, a wonderfully short and sweet palomino mare.
    My own concerns for Travis began to rise as I became acutely aware of his sudden pallor transformation. His skin tone seemed to be changing quite suddenly from an adrenalized flushed pink to a clammy white. After politely excusing himself, Travis seemed to be spending more time behind the round pen than with our little gathering at the hitching post. I wasn’t certain, but within such an emotionally charged environment, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he was throwing up.
    Travis had been made aware that his lost son’s life had beendisastrous. He understood that as much as he wanted to, he could not rush in and scoop up his son in a flurry of kisses. Though he ached to, he could not say, “Hey, I’m your dad, I love you, and I’m taking you home with me.” He acknowledged that in order for this meeting to be “processed” by Jason … he had to go slow and wait for the right moment.
    As the two little boys and I led Teva out into the arena, Jason looked up at me with a small furrow between his brows. “I’ve never ridden a horse before,” he admitted in a very quiet voice. He was afraid. “We’re okay; how ’bout if Nathan rides first so that you can see for yourself how lovable Teva is?” I replied in a voice that I hoped would give him comfort.
    Since Nathan had ridden before, I was a little surprised when he also was a bit hesitant. It was clear that the best thing to do was settle him in the saddle and just stand quiet for a moment. I invited Travis to come out into the arena and walk on the off side of Teva as I led her, just so that Nathan would feel “extra safe.”
    It didn’t occur to me until several laps later, when Nathan was calling and waving to everyone that would wave back, that this truly was the perfect scenario for Jason to get to know his dad.
    “Okay, now it’s Jason’s turn,” I announced from the arena as I helped a triumphant Nathan down the mounting block.
    I watched as Jason made his way through the arena’s sand. His helmeted little head was down and his demeanor looked as if he had just been asked to “walk the plank.” Fear clung to him like his small, rumpled coat.
    As I helped Jason climb to the top of the mounting block, I explained to him that he could step across onto the saddle when he felt like he was ready, and that all together we wouldstand still for as long as he wished.
    There, on the top of the mounting block, Jason