Biggest Little Secret: Starwood Chronicles

By Bobby Hutchinson

"J-Bird, I'm in bad trouble."
Saloon owner Harper Goodman staggers off the bus in sleepy Starwood, begging for sanctuary. Emotionally and physically drained and beaten, who can she trust besides her best friend, Joanne?

Certainly not Quinn Valdez, the handsome, mysterious carpenter. Even though he vows to protect her, she's certain he's already betrayed her. 

Worst of all, Harper has a secret she dares not reveal, even to Joanne. 

If Harper tells the truth, the secret closest to her heart could break it.

Some secrets are too delicate and dangerous to share.

But could the truth--and the love of a good man--set her free?  She'd have to trust, and she's never learned how.

Sweet, short, small-town romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bobby Hutchinson
• Release date: Mar 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781927785348

Bobby Hutchinson

Bobby Hutchinson spends her time reading, writing, riding a three-wheel bike all over the place and towing Calamity Jane, her refurbished old travel trailer, to camping spots all over B.C. Getting old is fantastic; she can do whatever the heck she pleases and write what fascinates her. She loves hearing from readers and appreciates any ideas they have for interesting situations. 

Book preview

1

Harper Goodman stumbled off of Baxter’s Shuttle Service in Starwood and pulled the blue billed cap down further over her ginger hair, wincing when she raised her arm. She dug her cell phone out and tapped in Joanne’s number, weak with relief when her friend answered.

J-bird, I need a huge favor. Harper's voice echoed through the receiver. She knew she sounded strange. She couldn’t seem to stop crying.

I’m at the Starwood Bus Station. Do—do you think you could come pick me up? Her voice cracked, and more tears streamed down her cheeks when Joanne said, Of course. Sit tight. We’ll be there in a few minutes.

Harper’s stomach, already uneasy, clenched. She fought against nausea that threatened to gag her as she painfully shouldered her backpack and waited while the bus driver unloaded her fat blue suitcase.

She shoved her dark glasses further up her nose, mopped at her cheeks with her hand and then rubbed her aching shoulder, wincing at the pain in her ribs and abdomen.

Welcome to Starwood, the skinny driver smiled. He had bad teeth. There was something smarmy about him. I hear it’s a real friendly little place. You coming here to work? I hear the mines are hiring lots of new people.

I’m not staying, she snapped, grabbing her bag and turning away. He’d tried to start up a conversation at every stop between here and Calgary, where she’d gotten on. He gave her the creeps, but so did almost every guy she saw these days.

She didn’t trust him. She didn’t trust anyone. He might know Brad, he could be reporting back to the violent man from whom she was trying desperately to escape. Her heart hammered and she felt dizzy with sudden panic. Her bruised and blackened eyes, behind her dark glasses, swung right and then left, searching.

What if Brad was here already? What if—she let out a muffled scream and stumbled back when someone put a hand on her arm.

Hey, easy does it, it’s just me. Joanne gave her a hug, and then held her up when Harper’s legs threatened to collapse.

Harper struggled to stop crying, but she couldn’t seem to control the sobs. She managed to tell Joanne that she didn’t want to cause problems for her or her new husband, but Joanne hushed her.

What’s happened? she asked once Harper quieted.

I need help, Harper croaked. Oh, J-bird, I’m in such bad trouble. Harper fell into Joanne’s arms again, sobbing, unable to say anything more.

The dark glasses slipped off and Joanne grabbed them and tucked them in her jacket pocket. She wrapped her arms around her oldest friend and let Harper cry for as long as she needed.

When the sobs eased, she reached over, tracing the outline of the purple bruise around Harper’s left eye, brushing away the new tears that were streaming down her smashed-up face.

You’ve come to the right place, Joanne said gently. We specialize in trouble, Colin and I. Let’s go home, and you can tell me all about it.

Harper struggled hard to gain some control, to stop her legs from shaking, and after a few minutes, Joanne picked up her suitcase, her arm protectively around Harper’s back.

The car’s right over here, c’mon, love.

Harper looked around to see who might have been watching.

The bus driver, standing by the door of the small depot, waved at her, and she shuddered.

Harper tried to disguise the soreness as she slipped the backpack off and climbed into the car, but a moan escaped anyway.

And Joanne suggested they go to the medical centre.

Harper shook her head, struggling to get out of the car.

She couldn’t let medical personnel examine her. Somehow, the results would get back to Brad.

Joanne reached over, restraining her, promising—

Okay, okay, no medical centre. We’ll go home.

It wasn’t until they were driving away that a tiny bit of the tension left Harper’s body.

I didn’t want your kids to see me like this, Harper said in a voice so small it was barely even audible to herself. Where are they?

She dreaded meeting the kids. She’d been steeling herself ever since Joanne answered her desperate phone call.

It's okay, Colin's taken them out for a picnic, so we can have a few moments alone. And once we explain that you had an accident but you’re fine, they’ll accept it.

It was a relief not to have to meet them yet. Maybe she could get her emotions in check before it happened. Harper blew her nose, wincing at the pain in her head.

Joanne glanced over at her, taking in the purple bruises and swollen eyelids. I take it Brad did that, she said, anger in her voice.

Harper didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. Joanne knew what Brad was capable of.

"Bastard," Joanne spat.

Harper nodded. He was all of that, alright.

After a few moments, Joanne pulled into a parking spot in front of a cute two-storey house and parked, but Harper didn't move out of her seat.

Sweetie, what's wrong? Please let me help you, Joanne begged. You’re safe here; I promise you that.

I’m so afraid I’ll bring trouble down on you. If Brad finds out where I am—

Stop this now. I’m not afraid of Brad anymore, and Colin certainly isn’t. I’ve already told him what the creep is like. And anyhow, there’s no way he’ll find you, Harper. Joanne got out and came over to the passenger door. C’mon inside now, sweetie. I’ll make us a cup of tea. Tea helps everything, remember?

It was a sad, dark joke they shared. They’d had tea together when neither could think of anything that would help the desperate situations they’d sometimes been in.

I've ruined your day, Harper looked into Joanne’s kind hazel eyes, tears burning again at the corners of her own. You were planning a picnic together, weren’t you?

Nonsense, you haven't ruined anything, Joanne ran a caring hand down Harper's arm. "I love that you’re here, Harper, get that through your thick head. Come on, let's get you settled inside."

Harper struggled out of the car, trying not to show how much her body hurt.

Joanne grabbed the backpack, unlocked the door to the house, led the way into the bright, cheerful kitchen.

Sit down here for a minute, she pulled out a chair by the round table, putting the backpack on the floor. I’ll go out and get your suitcase.

Harper sat until Joanne disappeared out the door, and then she