Page 24 of Roaring Fork Rockstar (Roaring Fork Ranch #3)

“The bone marrow aspiration confirms what we suspected from the blood work,” Dr. Robbins continued. “Luna has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I believe Dr. Patel told you it’s also referred to as ALL.”

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands. Leukemia. My baby had cancer.

“I know this is devastating news,” Dr. Robbins said gently. “But I want to emphasize that ALL has one of the highest childhood cancer survival rates. With proper care, successful remission rates are approximately ninety-eight percent.”

“Care?” Holt asked, his voice steadier than I could have managed.

“We’ll start chemotherapy as soon as possible.

The protocol for ALL involves several phases.

The first phase—induction—is the most intensive, aiming to achieve remission within the first month.

For that, we’ll keep her here at the hospital.

Once we’re sure she’s handling it okay, you’ll be able to take her home.

After that, the subsequent rounds can be handled on an outpatient basis. ”

The clinical terms blended together as I struggled to process them.

“Will she lose her hair?” I asked, the question slipping out unbidden.

“Yes, it will cause hair loss. But children are remarkably resilient—often more so than we adults expect.”

The doctor continued explaining the potential side effects and success rates, but I could barely focus. Holt’s arm slipped around my shoulders, pulling me against his side when I started to tremble.

“I’ll let the two of you talk,” Dr. Robbins finally said. “I’ll be right outside if you have any questions. The nurse will have an information packet waiting in Luna’s room that explains everything in detail. We’ll meet again later to discuss the next steps.”

When the door closed behind her, I finally broke down. Holt held me, reminding me of the odds and assuring me that Luna would face this with her characteristic curiosity rather than fear.

Eventually, the storm passed, leaving me drained but calm enough to return to Luna’s room. I needed to be strong for my daughter. She’d take her cues from me.

When we walked in, my father took one look at my face and knew. His eyes filled, but he blinked the tears away before turning to face Luna, who was happily drawing more pictures.

“Look what I made!” she exclaimed, holding up a picture. “It’s Sparkles and me at the hospital. See the butterflies coming to visit?”

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “It’s beautiful, baby.”

“I’m going to hang it up so the doctors can see it,” she announced.

A nurse appeared with tape, helping Luna place her artwork on the wall beside her bed. My father used the distraction to pull me into the hallway.

“How bad is it?” he asked quietly.

“The doctor says the survival rate of the type of cancer she has is high—ninety-eight percent.”

“We will get through this, mija . All of us.”

My father’s gaze shifted to Holt, who was helping Luna with another drawing.

“He’s a good man,” Dad said simply.

“You’ve known him less than twenty-four hours,” I pointed out.

“I know enough.” His eyes met mine. “He looks at Luna the way I look at you.”

Before I could respond, the elevator doors at the end of the hall opened, revealing Sam and Beau, who spotted us immediately. Sam hurried forward to wrap me in a hug.

“Buck called us last night.” Her eyes searched mine. “How is she?”

“It’s cancer.”

Sam’s hand flew to her mouth. Beside her, Beau’s expression turned solemn.

“What can we do?” he asked.

“Being here is enough?—”

“Keltie.” Sam cut me off gently. “I’ve been making calls. There’s an apartment building near the hospital that offers short-term rentals to families of patients. Beau and I made all the arrangements.”

The unexpected gesture left me momentarily speechless. “Sam, I can’t accept?—”

“Please,” she said quietly. “Let us help make this at least a little easier on you.”

I felt the sincerity in her voice deep inside me. These people I’d only recently met were showing up when it counted most.

Beau cleared his throat. “I’ve also arranged for a private helicopter to be at your disposal with very little lead time. It can take Holt to CB when he needs to go, then fly him here afterward.”

I blinked in surprise. “That’s—you don’t have to?—”

“It’s already done,” Beau said simply. “Just let us know when.”

We rejoined the others in Luna’s room, where Sam immediately went to Luna’s bedside while Beau approached Holt.

While the two men spoke quietly, I realized how long Holt had been here. With a sinking feeling, I remembered his conversation with Buck about the forty-eight-hour stipulation in the trust.

I moved to his side. “Holt, you have to go back to Crested Butte.”

He looked down at me, fatigue evident in the shadows beneath his eyes. “I’ll try to talk to the attorney, but it isn’t only the time away I’m dealing with. I have to play a minimum of three nights a week.”

“You need to leave now,” I said, though the words hurt to speak.

“I can’t?—”

“You’ll be back as soon as you can,” Sam interjected. “Victor, Beau, and I will be here with Keltie and Luna.”

Holt’s jaw tightened, conflict clear in his eyes.

I led him into the hallway. “Look, I understand,” I told him, meaning it. “But I won’t let you risk the consequences of not adhering to the trust. Luna and I will be fine for a couple of days. We aren’t alone.”

“I can stay a few more hours.”

I raised a brow.

“I’ll still have time to get to CB. More if I take Beau up on his offer to fly me there.”

When we walked into her room and saw Luna was asleep, Holt led me over to one of the recliners, pulled me onto his lap, then shifted the lever to flatten it. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. “If Luna wakes up, I’ll tell you.”

When I felt Holt’s hand on my arm and heard him say my name, I realized I’d fallen asleep.

“I gotta go, darlin’. You call me immediately if anything changes. Anything at all.”

“I promise I will.”

Beau stepped forward. “The helicopter is ready whenever you are.”

Holt turned to Luna. “Hey, Unicorn Girl. I have to go to Crested Butte for a little while. But I’ll be here again tomorrow, okay?”

Luna’s lower lip trembled. “Promise?”

“Pinky promise,” he said solemnly, linking his little finger with hers. “And while I’m gone, maybe you can draw more pictures for our story?”

She brightened at this mission. “I will! The best pictures ever!”

I followed Holt into the hallway, where he pulled me into a fierce embrace. His kiss held everything I needed—promise, comfort, determination, and something deeper neither of us was ready to name. “We’ll be okay,” I assured him as we parted.

I watched him walk away, Beau at his side, until the elevator doors closed between us. Only then did I allow myself to acknowledge the hollow feeling his absence left—the space that, in the span of a few short days, had become his alone to fill.