Page 39 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

I glanced between Luna and the window, hating the thought of their evening being cut short, but more than that, hating the idea of taking the two of them out on the road in the deteriorating conditions.

“That’s part of the reason Kaleb called. He wanted to make sure none of us were headed into town.”

“The Goat’s supposed to reopen tomorrow,” Keltie said more to herself than any of us.

“Why don’t you call Miguel?” I suggested. “See how bad it looks from his place.”

Keltie pulled out her phone. The call was brief, but the concern on her face worsened with each passing moment.

“That bad?” I asked when she hung up.

“He says it’s coming down heavily in town too. Road crews are already having trouble keeping up, and the highway between here and the butte might close soon.” She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Miguel offered to open the Goat tomorrow if he can make it in. Said not to worry.”

“Then, stay,” Flynn urged, bringing the last dish to the table. “We’ve got tons of room.”

Keltie’s expression shifted from concern to alarm. “Luna’s medication. I don’t have it with me.”

“Medication?” Flynn asked.

“For her fever.” Keltie’s voice tightened with distress. “It’s at home. I can’t believe I didn’t think to bring it. What kind of mother forgets something that important?”

“The kind who’s been through a lot lately,” I said softly, touching her arm. “We’ll figure it out.”

As I spoke, a flash hit me—a vision so vivid that it might have been a memory. Luna thrashing in bed, her face flushed with fever, her breathing labored. The intensity of it made me blink hard, my hand tightening reflexively on Keltie’s arm.

“Holt? What’s wrong?” she asked, frowning at my expression.

I shook it off, trying to hide how much the premonition had unsettled me. “I’m fine. Let’s check the weather report and see exactly what we’re dealing with.”

Buck was already pulling up the radar on his phone. “Storm’s moving north, not south. Highway to Gunnison should still be passable.”

I made a quick decision. “I’ll drive to the hospital in Gunnison and get her medication.”

“What? No,” Keltie protested immediately. “It’s Christmas, and the roads are dangerous.”

I motioned for her to join me in the kitchen so her daughter wouldn’t hear us. “Luna’s health is more important,” I countered, memories of her hospital stay fresh in my mind. “You said yourself how bad it could get if her fever spikes again.”

Keltie bit her lip, torn between worry for her daughter and concern for my safety.

“Call the hospital,” I urged. “See if Dr. Patel or another doctor on duty can have the medication ready. It’ll be a quick trip.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she made the call. Dr. Patel happened to be there tonight and agreed to have the prescription ready for pickup.

“He says to ask for him at the emergency desk,” she told me, covering the phone’s microphone. “He’ll meet you there.”

When she hung up, she turned to me with a mixture of gratitude and anxiety. “The medication is prescription-strength Children’s Motrin, the liquid kind. He’s giving us extra because of the weather. It’s for when her fever goes above 101.5.”

“I’ve got it,” I assured her, already grabbing my coat.

“I’m coming with you,” Buck announced, reaching for his own jacket. “Better to have two of us on the road in this weather.”

Flynn appeared with a backpack full of emergency supplies. “Take the Expedition. It has the best tires and all-wheel drive.”

Keltie followed me to the door, her expression torn. “Holt, I don’t know how to thank you.”

“No need,” I said, zipping up my coat.

A small voice interrupted us. “Mr. Holt?”

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