Page 3 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

I shook my head, trying to focus on the view outside my window rather than the dread spreading through my chest. The mountains stood indifferent, snow-capped and silent, unconcerned with the games a mysterious LLC was playing with my family.

When I arrivedat Six-pack’s office in Gunnison, all my siblings were already gathered in the conference room. Six-pack stood at the head of the table, manila folder in hand, wearing thesame expression he’d had when delivering the news to each of my three brothers before me.

“Holt,” Six-pack greeted me. “Seeing as we’re all here, we can begin.” Flynn, the youngest of the five of us and our only sister, and I took the two open seats. Now that she was married, with twin sons, I hoped whatever this asshole was about to tell us would be something required of me, not her.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said, hating how my voice sounded. “What impossible task do I need to perform?”

Six-pack adjusted his glasses. “I’ve received instructions from the Roaring Fork Trust LLC regarding the next codicil.”

“Get on with it, Six-pack,” Buck snapped.

“It reads as follows. ‘The Roaring Fork Trust further stipulates that Holt David Wheaton must live in Crested Butte, Colorado, for a period of three hundred and sixty-five days, defined as not being absent from the boundaries of the town for a period longer than forty-eight consecutive hours.’”

I frowned. “That’s it? Stay in CB for a year?” It sounded suspiciously simple after what my brothers had been through.

Six-pack cleared his throat. “There’s more. ‘During this period, he must perform musical sets at local establishments no fewer than three times per week and donate fifty percent of all earnings from these performances to the Miracles of Hope Children’s Charity of Crested Butte, Colorado.’”

It was the same charity that would get everything if I didn’t do what the codicil demanded. I felt my jaw tighten.

“So I’m trapped in town, playing dive bars for a year,” I said flatly.

“That appears to be the requirement, yes,” Six-pack replied.

I laughed, but not because it was funny. “Any specific songs they want me to play? Any venues I have to avoid?”

“The codicil doesn’t specify further details about the performances,” Six-pack said, “only that they must be public,paid engagements and properly documented for verification purposes.”

I stood up, unable to stay seated. The walls felt too close, the air too thin.

“If the terms of the codicil are not met, then the ranch will be sold and the proceeds given to?—”

Buck stood like I had. “Shut the fuck up, Six-pack. We know all this shit. Holt doesn’t do as he’s told, we lose everything. Is there anything else we don’t know? Other than who the asshole behind the scenes calling the shots is?”

The attorney—a guy we all went to high school with—shook his head.

“Then, we’re outta here,” Buck added.

“When do I have to start?” I asked, the question sounding strange even to my own ears.

“Immediately,” Six-pack replied. “The clock begins ticking today. You have twelve months.”

I turned and headed for the exit, not trusting myself to say anything more. My hand trembled on the doorknob—not from fear, but from the effort of containing everything churning inside me.

Once outside, I stood by my truck, resting my hands on the hood, trying to steady my breathing.

“You okay?” Cord’s voice came from behind me.

I straightened, not turning around. “Were you a year ago when you found out you had to drive across the country to a place you’d never heard of?”

Cord shook his head. “You know I wasn’t.”

“To tell you the truth, I wish I had to go somewhere.”

“I get it, man.”

We all did. Buck, Porter, Cord, me, and even Flynn. We were powerless against a nameless, faceless trustee who pulled ourstrings like a puppet master. “Sorry. I know you do. Listen, I need some time.”

I hugged each of my siblings, then got in my truck. It was a thirty-minute drive to the Roaring Fork—a ranch that had been in our family for generations. It was worth millions, and if I didn’t do my part, every penny of it would be gone.

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