Page 97 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

“What happened?” I asked, keeping my voice low, so Luna wouldn’t hear.

Keltie shook her head almost imperceptibly. “I’ll tell you later.”

I wanted to press her, to demand answers now, but the way her fingers shook as she brushed the hair from her face told me this wasn’t the moment.

“Mommy, get this kind,” Luna suggested, chocolate ice cream smeared across her mouth. “It’s the best.”

Keltie’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Can I have a taste of yours?”

Luna pushed her cone toward Keltie, who pretended to take a bite. The action seemed to ground her, and color returned to her cheeks.

“Ben’s set is about to start,” I said, checking my watch.

“I can’t wait!” Luna exclaimed, hopping with the boundless energy only a child could muster during an illness remission.

Victor took her sticky hand in his. “Let’s go find our seats,pequeña.”

As we walked toward the amphitheater, I placed my hand on Keltie’s back, leaning close to her ear. “You sure you’re okay?”

Her body was tense under my touch. “Just stay close?”

“Always,” I promised, weaving our fingers together.

The crowd roaredas CB Rice took the stage. Ben stepped up to the microphone, his trademark charisma filling the venue. “How’s everybody doing, Crested Butte?” The response was deafening.

He grinned and launched into one of the band’s biggest hits. The music swept through the amphitheater, guitars and drums creating a rhythm that pulsed through the air like a living thing. Three songs in, even Luna was on her feet, clapping and swaying beneath the bright afternoon sun. Keltie remained subdued, though her shoulders gradually relaxed as the music continued.

By the fifth song, Luna’s energy began to fade. Her eyes grew heavy, and she crawled into Victor’s lap, her unicorn cape tangled around her legs.

“She’s tired,” Keltie whispered, a mother’s concern replacing whatever had troubled her earlier.

Victor stroked Luna’s hair. “I’ll take her home,” he said. “She’s had an exciting day.”

“I should come too,” Keltie began, already reaching for her purse.

“Stay,” Victor insisted. “The show’s almost over. You deserve this night,mija. Come home when it’s finished.”

Keltie hesitated, torn between her daughter and the first real break she’d had in months.

“I’ve got this,” Victor assured her, gathering Luna into his arms. She didn’t stir, her exhaustion complete after the emotional day. “You two enjoy the rest of the show.”

After they left, Keltie moved closer to me as Ben introduced the next song, one of their newer releases that had been climbing the charts. The crowd sang along, voices rising into the clear blue sky.

“Thank you all for being here tonight,” Ben said after the song ended. “We’ve got a special guest I’d like to invite up on stage with us.” His eyes found mine in the throng of people. “Holt Wheaton, get your ass up here!”

The crowd erupted, and Keltie’s face broke into a genuine smile for the first time since whatever had happened earlier. She rose to her tiptoe and kissed me quickly. “Go. Show them what else you’ve got.” My eyes met Beau’s and Sam’s, who were seated with us. When they both nodded, I kissed Keltie, then hurried toward the stage.

When I walked over to Ben, he clasped my hand and pulled me into a quick embrace before steering me toward a guitar tech, who handed me my Gibson.

“We’re going to play a little something different,” Ben announced. “This is a song written by our friend Holt here, a song that’ll be featured on our next album. It’s called ‘Breaking Circles.’”

I stepped up to the microphone beside him, adjusting the strap across my shoulder. The weight of the guitar steadied me as I played the opening riff. When Ben came in with the vocals,the crowd fell silent, absorbed in the new song. By the chorus, they were swaying, caught up in the melody.

For those few minutes, everything else disappeared—the trust, Luna’s illness, Keltie’s fear—all of it faded as the music took over. The final chord rang out, vibrating through my fingers, and for a brief moment, everything was silent before the audience erupted.

Ben clapped me on the shoulder. “Ladies and gentlemen, Holt Wheaton!”

I gave a small bow, searching the crowd for Keltie. She stood near the front, clapping and smiling.

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