When Embers Find Her (The Women of Sapphire Book 1) by L. Creeke

Author:L. Creeke [Creeke, L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing
Published: 2026-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

I woke with a start, my body twitching just slightly. I shook my head like it would throw the thoughts out with force. I don’t like living in the past. With a huff through my nose, I rubbed my face hard before I looked down to check on Lottie. My blood ran cold when I saw she wasn’t on my lap anymore. In fact, she wasn’t here at all.

Goddamn it, how did I sleep through that?

I jumped to my feet, grabbed my pistol, and immediately ran out of that train car with lightning speed. I didn’t have to look too hard though because she was sitting on the stump by the campfire, flames dying low now. Her ivy eyes were fixed on the amber glow. She looked like she was hollowed out again.

“Lot…what’s wrong, sweetheart?” I knelt down in front of her and lifted her face from the fire. Her eyes were puffy, red, but dry as a bone. Her expression was dull, almost lifeless.

“It hurts.”

“What hurts, Lot? Where does it hurt?” I looked her up and down.

“I needed to… um, relieve myself, but it was too painful,” she squeaked, her eyes filling with emotion again while she stared into mine. “I think I’m bleeding again too.”

“I’m sorry, baby,” I pulled her into my chest. “Come on; let’s get ya fixed up.”

Lottie didn’t move when I stood with my hand out to her.

“If they had killed me…”

I knelt back down again.

“It might have been easier,” she finished. “For us both.”

My heart dropped, ripped in two.

“No, Lottie. It wouldn’t have. No world’s worth livin’ in if you ain’t in it,” I said, my tone firm.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so melancholy.” She sniffled a bit.

“Nothin’ wrong with it, darlin’. But I’m tellin’ you, don’t ever think you are less than a goddamn privilege to care for.” I kissed her cheek. “Now let’s get you squared away,” I grabbed my bag.

She didn’t ask questions as I led her down to the stream where I took to bathing. It was dark, a low moon, and the stars were twinkling bright. When we reached the bank, she opened her mouth a little.

“Maybe the cool water of the stream will help,” I said, pulling off my coat from her shoulders. She nodded and wrapped her arms around my stomach and leaned her face into my chest for a moment; I let her stay there. When she straightened, she lifted her arms up above her head so I could pull the gown off of her. I pulled my shirt over my head from the back and took off my boxers. Then I grabbed a bar of soap from my bag and led her right into the brook. The water was cool, but not frigid. At least not for me. I looked back at Lottie and she was shivering some.

“It’s magical here,” she whispered, looking up at the stars. She seemed fond of the night, of the dark sky, of the moon. It was like she was meant to exist there.

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