Returned

A/N: I always hope the second chapter is as good as the first when I'm writing anything and I'm sure that'll never go away. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy.

The night sky was pitch black by the time Kenneth returned home. Sandy had already changed into her nightgown, clutching the jacket Shadow gave her.

"How'd it go?" she asked, moving out of the doorway as Kenneth walked past her. "Pa?"

Kenneth sighed, sitting in the chair in the living room next to the fireplace. "He paid for the damages and said he wants his jacket back." He answered, staring into the roaring fire. He looked at his daughter as she held the jacket out to him, frowning as he shook his head. "Said he wants you to return it personally. They leave tomorrow morning. That boy done searched everywhere in this town fer Roy and figured he skipped town."

Sandy swallowed at the thought of leaving now, especially with how dark it was and knowing that the townsfolk would want to ask her what happened at the tavern out of concern and wondering what she was doing out this late. "Cain't I jus' give it to him before they go?" she asked. "I'm not even dressed properly."

Kenneth shook his head, sighing as he pressed his gun into her hand. "Take this with you just in case." He mumbled. "Packs of Mightyenas have been roaming around."

Sandy nodded, gripping the jacket as she changed into a loose shirt and a pair of pants, boots thudding against the ground as she walked to the edge of town. She swallowed, watching various shops shut down for the night, shutters blocking her view of the inside and whether someone would still be there by the time she got back to town.

She took in a deep breath and let it out as she spotted a tent near the town's gate with a fire going. She jumped as the tent flap was opened and Shadow stepped out, shirt unbuttoned and gun holster empty.

"Sheriff's girl," he said, "just the person I was waiting on."

Sandy held out his jacket for him, grunting as he pulled at it bringing her towards him.

"What, no thanks for saving you?" he asked, tossing his jacket into the tent and walking towards her.

Sandy stepped back, answering, "Thanks. N, uh, thanks fer payin' fer the damages yer gang caused. That was mighty noble of you."

Shadow clicked his tongue. "I told them not to cause trouble. Now I got to figure out what to do with Clyde's damn Musdale." He said, scratching the back of his neck. He looked behind her as the two street lamps in town came on. "Since it's late why don't you—."

"Naw, it's fine." Sandy interrupted, glancing behind her. "I was supposed to just return your jacket, that's all. I'll be fine."

Shadow looked at her for a moment, shoving his hands in his pockets. "It's late, sheriff's girl, anybody with common sense wouldn't walk back home by themselves. Besides, I won't do anything to you." He licked his lips before grinning. "Unless you want me to that is."

Sandy scoffed, gripping the gun in her hand a bit tighter. "You'll be dead 'fore ya even know it." She replied, turning towards the town.

"In all seriousness, I already took care of Clyde. How about in the morning I give you his horse and call us even?" he said. "Matter of fact, I'll leave it right out front your door and be long gone."

Sandy turned towards him, biting her lip for a moment as she thought about his offer. They did need another horse to help with plowing the field and she was sure Ma would appreciate it with Randy being gone all the time on business. "Alright, but what do you get?" she asked.

"For you to not walk home this late and spend the night somewhere relatively safe," Shadow answered, shucking off his shirt as he headed back inside his tent.

Sandy nearly hated the fact that he was right and the too-close-for-comfort howl of a Mightyena didn't help her case. She begrudgingly followed Shadow inside his tent, checking the gun's barrel before looking at Shadow, frowning as he chuckled.

"I already told you I won't do anything." He said, rolling his shirt up into a makeshift pillow. "Problem is I only have one cot so make your choice, sheriff's girl."

"It's Sandy," she said, walking towards the cot as she toed off her boots, blushing as she thought about what this might look like in the morning. Instead, she took the extra blanket, making herself comfortable on the floor until Shadow sighed. "What?"

"Get up here, I'm not letting you sleep in the dirt."

"Well, I ain't sharin' a cot with you. Can you imagine what people would think?"

"I can," Shadow paused for a moment as the cot squeaked. "but that doesn't have anything to do with me and your old man would have my head if he found out about any of this." He continued, covering Sandy's mouth once she yelled as he picked her up.

She glared at him, barely making out his outline in the dark as the fire outside dwindled. Shadow removed his hand, moving beside her. "Just go to sleep, or else." He mumbled.

"Or else what?"

"You think my crew wouldn't spread around the fact they heard you in my tent? Imagine what people would think." He shot back, turning his back towards her and pulling his blanket up to his shoulders.

Sandy huffed, staring at the tent's top until she fell asleep. When she awoke in the morning, she found herself tucked against Shadow's side, both arms around his waist, head resting on his chest. He simply watched her get up and put her shoes back on, heading back into town before the shopkeepers opened up their doors. Shadow clicked his tongue as he noticed she left a folded sheet of paper in his jacket pocket. Whatever it was, it was probably important to her and now he had to return it along with the Mudsdale.