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  H A Dawson Boxset 1

  A collection of 4 books Includes Back Road, Girl On A Train, One Big Lie and Silent Screams

  by

  H A Dawson

  ©2013 H A Dawson

  (Honor Amelia Dawson)

  Stoats and Swan Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Smashwords Edition

  Revised November 2016

  (Many thanks to our readers group for their help with this update)

  This is a work of fiction. Any characters, names, organisations, places, events or situations are either imaginary or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  This book contains material protected under International and U.K Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorised reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author and publisher.

  This book is written in U.K English and has been edited/proofread to comply with UK grammar and language conventions. The structure differs in subtle ways to other versions of English. Some spelling and grammar variances will be apparent in the text, and are normal.

  Find out more about the author and her books by visiting

  http://www.honadawson.com

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  Novels by H A Dawson

  Book 1: Girl On A Train

  Book 2: One Big Lie

  Book 3: Silent Screams

  Book 4: Naive Retribution

  Novellas

  Back Road

  Guilt Trap

  Separates

  Dark Places

  * * *

  Important note for readers. Please check with your vendor for the latest edition of this book.

  We are a small team swift to expedite revisions to ensure our products are of the highest quality for your reading pleasure.

  * * *

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Books By This Author

  Back Road

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Girl On A Train

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18 1977

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22 1978

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32 1979

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Silent Screams

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

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  H A Dawson - Catalogue

  H A Dawson - Catalogue

  H A Dawson

  Back Road

  Chapter 1

  Stacy went silent when her attention was drawn by a couple greeting each other with a kiss and hug at the café counter. Their eyes were alight, smiles vivid and pure, and their display of interest in each other, was reminiscent of the early days in her relationship with Nick, her partner of seven years. It seemed such a long time ago.

  Ignoring her rising unease, she lowered her gaze and focused on her friends, Kim, Christie and Jenny, situated at both sides of the rectangular table. Their visit to the café was a regular weekly occurrence, something they had done for the past nine years after their yoga class. It was a moment for bonding their friendship. They were great girls; always ready to listen, always able to lighten a dark mood.

  ‘You’re quiet,’ Christie said, pulling her from her reverie. ‘What’s up babe?’

  Stacy sharpened her attention. ‘Nothing … just tired.

  ‘Share,’ she said, leaning forward. What’s he done?’

  ‘Nick?’ A glint formed in her eye. ‘Nothing. He’s a pain in the backside, as always. But he’s not actually done anything. He’s one of the good guys.’

  ‘He’ll slip up before long. They always do.’

  Keen to shroud her anxieties, she lifted her coffee mug to her lips, hiding her face.

  ‘Would you ever leave him?’

  Uneasy, she studied her companions. Christie and Jenny both appeared to be goading her into saying she would, she assumed to generate humour, since that was their way; Kim had an interested expression, waiting for an honest answer. Whilst she was the least fun, she was the easiest to talk to and didn’t take pleasure twisting comments.

  ‘All relationships have problems,’ Stacy replied. ‘Surely, it’s better to work at the one you have, than to jump into bed with someone else only to experience the same problems at a later date.’

  ‘I’d do both,’ giggled Christie.

  Jenny made a similar comment, joining in the fun, whilst Kim was notably quiet. Sensing she disagreed, preferring a more serious conversation, Stacy drew her in.

  ‘Kim agrees with me,’ she said. ‘We’re more committed to our relationships than you.’

  ‘Bo-ring,’ Christie said.

  Stacy grinned. ‘I love Nick. He’s good for me. He’s worth a bit of effort.’

  ‘Yet you still say it with a negative undertone. What’s bothering you?’

  ‘Where do I start?’ She flung back her head then regarded her friends with amusement. ‘Seriously though, he hasn’t done anything wrong as such. We’re just not at the infatuation stage like you.’

  Jenny and Christie shot each other amused glances. Both were at the start of a new relationship, unlike Kim
who was older than the rest of them, and a single mum and had been for a number of years.

  ‘You’ll get there one day,’ Stacy continued. ‘It’s a different kind of love, more comfortable and satisfying. You can be yourself and don’t have to put on an act.’

  ‘Meaning you can fart in front of him,’ Christie said and laughed.

  A smile lit her face. ‘I can also make criticisms without feeling as though he’s going to walk out on me.’

  ‘And that’s a benefit because?’

  ‘He earns more than me!’

  Christie laughed. ‘That’d be right. You no longer desire his body so it’s about the money.’

  ‘What about his charming personality?’ Jenny asked. ‘Doesn’t that count for anything?’

  ‘Nick is not charming! He’s forever putting his foot in it.’ She shot Christie a glance. ‘You’ve met him. Remember how he told you your skirt was too tight?’

  ‘What he actually meant was that I had a fat arse!’

  Laughter spread from the table, drawing the attention of others close by. It was a wonderful feeling. When she was with her friends, she was always at her most comfortable. She loved them deeply. Without them, she would be nothing.

  The conversation progressed through various subjects before Christie proceeded to tell a tale about a recent event. She was a keen social tennis player, and a member of a local club, and had arranged a game of doubles earlier in the week. The court had been paid for, but an hour before the game one of the ladies called her to say she was unable to play due to a twisted ankle. Later the same day, the lady in question was spotted playing with another group. Given the level of those she was playing with, it seemed as though she had received a better offer.

  ‘That’s terrible,’ Stacy said. ‘What a cow! What did you do?’

  ‘I couldn’t find anyone else to play, and since there’s no refund on the court, I was out of pocket.’

  ‘You should have got the money from her,’ Jenny said.

  ‘I tried. She told me I should have got someone else to play.’

  Stacy shook her head. ‘ Did you tell her you’d seen her?’

  ‘I did. She said her ankle had improved during the course of the day.’

  ‘As if!’ Jenny said. ‘You can do without friends like that. Are you still speaking to her?’

  ‘Yeah.’ She traced the rim of her mug with her finger. ‘I won’t be asking her to play again, though. I need people I can rely on.’

  ‘I’m not sure I’d be able to forgive that easily,’

  ‘Don’t get me wrong. I’ll be civil with her, but I won’t ever forget what she did. One day, when the time is right, I’ll get my revenge.’

  Stacy was pensive. People were thoughtless. The game may not have meant much to the lady in question, but to let three other people down when they were relying on her was an inconsiderate thing to do. Christie needed to prevent any repetition

  Stacy piped up 'you'd better watch her then'

  ‘It won’t happen again. As I said, I won’t invite her again.’

  ‘Even so. You deserve better treatment. She was supposed to be a friend. Friends don’t treat each other that way.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter … really.’

  ‘You shouldn’t let people treat you like a doormat. At least demand her share of the court fees back.’

  ‘I could I suppose.’

  ‘Honestly, you’re too soft for your own good. People don’t realise the harm they’ve done unless you hit them hard.’ She glanced at Kim. ‘Isn’t that right?’

  Kim was stony-faced. ‘You do need to fight for your rights.’

  Stacy regarded her with puzzlement. Something bothered her, and she was clueless as to what it was. She was about to ask what the problem was when Jenny broke the silence, rising to her feet.

  ‘Sorry to have to break this up girls, but I have to go.’

  ‘Hot date?’ Christie asked.

  ‘He said he’d get the whip out if I’m late.’ She paused, her smile growing. ‘He expected me back half an hour ago!’

  The group bellowed with laughter. Once they had confirmed that they would all be at the yoga class the following week, followed by coffee afterwards, Stacy slung her bag over her shoulder and they all left the café. Standing by their cars, they said goodbye and parted company.

  Journeying home, Stacy glowed with pleasure and warmth, replaying both the yoga class and the varying conversations in her mind. It was wonderful to have a group of friends she could rely upon and vowed never to take them for granted. Their conversations were always fun, whether they chatted about personal issues, news items, or everyday events, they brightened her week.

  However, there were times that it would be good to burden someone else with her troubles with Nick, and wondered if she should have been more honest when she was asked about her problems. It could have lifted her spirits. However, she hadn’t wanted to ruin the cheery atmosphere, reasoning that no one wanted a friend who was forever moaning and dragging them down. Thursdays were a time for relaxing and forgetting about all that was wrong with the world, and it suited them all.

  Her thoughts wandered to the past, to when both she and Nick had left love letters dotted around the house, to when they always held hands whether sitting on the sofa or walking in public and to when a smile was as reassuring as a gentle word. It was understandable that such behaviour couldn’t last; even so, it was also disappointing.

  Arriving home, she parked the car outside, turned off the engine, and glanced at their house. It was eight o’clock in the evening, but as usual, it was empty. Just for once, it would be nice to return home to Nick and a warm greeting, a glass of wine and a hug. Despondent, she unbuckled her seatbelt, exited and locked the car, and strode to the house.

  Once inside, she placed her jacket and yoga bag into the cupboard and wandered into the living room where she listened to the silence and absorbed the solitude. It was strange being alone, having enjoyed her friends’ company for the last few hours, she yearned for more of the same. Sorrowful, she sank onto the two-seater fabric sofa, reached for a cushion, and pressed it against her tummy.

  Numerous photos on the mantelpiece caught her eye. In each one, she was with Nick, and all were taken during the heady days of young love. In the first, she was twenty-two and he was twenty-five, and it was taken in a nightclub during one of the early dates. Even though they had only known each other a couple of weeks, she knew instantly they were meant to be together and believed they were soul mates.

  Whilst she would never consider him charming since it wasn’t a constant characteristic, he could be thoughtful and selfless. On one occasion, they had been eating out in a restaurant, and she had ordered chicken in a sauce. She hadn’t read the menu correctly, and it had contained garlic, something she was unable to stomach. Nick realised her dilemma, and since he had opted for beef suggested they swapped meals. It was only later she released he too had an aversion to garlic.

  His actions had been a wonderful display of his love and something that would stay with her forever. These days he acted differently, it gave her heartache. She didn't expect him to act selflessly, but sometimes it would be lovely if he tried to console her and relieve her anguish.

  She needed a distraction, she leaned to one side, reaching for the remote control resting on the arm of the sofa, and switched on the television. Nothing appealed, and the words floated over her head. All she could think about was Nick and their crumbling relationship, and she had no solution. If he were around more, then maybe they could talk through their problems, but their paths rarely crossed. He was often busy, and she was frequently locked in the study, marking schoolwork and fulfilling her role as a teacher.

  Were their separate lives deliberate, a way of avoiding arguments and tense situations? It seemed likely, and it wrenched her heart. Relationships needed working at, but to do that they needed to spend more time together. When he returned home, she would highlight the problem and make the su
ggestion that they took an evening out.

  Her thoughts turned to his routine, Nick had an hour and a half commute at each end of the day, sometimes that was extended with visits to a fitness club. Saturday was taken with his love of go-karting since he was a member of a local club, Sunday mornings were spent in bed, and the afternoons spent watching sport on television. There was little leeway.

  Was she expecting too much asking to reduce his commitments? It was right that they had their own lives and interests, and she wouldn’t want it any other way. She wouldn’t be happy if he suggested that she ended her yoga and coffee sessions. Perhaps she should maintain silent.

  Morose, she trundled upstairs and readied herself for bed, intent in spending the final hour of her day reading. Before she climbed inside, she switched on the television to catch the news headlines and tidied away a few of Nick’s strewn items of clothing into either the linen basket or the drawers and wardrobes. She was checking his trouser pockets for used handkerchiefs when she was startled by his appearance.

  ‘I didn’t hear you come in,’ she said, holding her hand to her chest, her face displayed shock.

  He looked at her hand. ‘Evidently. What are you doing?’

  ‘Looking for any snotty handkerchiefs!’ She studied his irritated gaze. He thought she was prying. Did he have something to hide? It seemed so, and it raised her anxiety. Stiffly, she removed her hand from his pocket, grabbed a hanger from the wardrobe and placed the trousers inside.

  ‘You won’t find anything in there,’ he said.

  ‘your expression showed otherwise.’

  ‘Leave it Stacy. I’ve had a bloody hard day, I’m knackered, and I want to go to bed.’