Desired Outcome

A/N: I have no clue how long this is gonna be so just bear with me while I go crazy and go stupid. Also, this whole before time skip was supposed to be shorter but I love drama.

"Where were ya last night?" Jodi asked, wiping her hands on her apron as she walked out of the kitchen. "Do ya have any idea how long we waited up for you?"

Sandy glanced at her father as he stood by her mother. "If I had known that this woulda happened, I woulda went and gave him that jacket myself," Kenneth said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

Sandy blinked, lips parted as she tried to figure out what her parents were talking about. Then it hit her. "Y'all don't really think I would. . ." she paused, looking at her parents. "I would never—."

"I know, but that outlaw, Shadow," Jodi started, wringing her hands together. "we were jus' worried n," she stopped as a knock came at the door and she went to answer it.

Sandy turned towards Kenneth, saying, "Jus' because I didn't come home last night doesn't mean I slept with him." She frowned, folding her arms over her chest.

"Sandy, get out here," Jodi called.

Sandy sighed, walking towards the front door and stopping as Shadow looked at her and held the Mudsdale's reins out for her to take. She took them, closing the door behind her as she stepped outside. "Looks like yer a man of your word. What happened to you bein' long gone?" she asked, leading the horse to the empty stable house in their yard.

"Changed my mind. Wanted to make sure you made it back and give you this." He said, holding out the folded sheet of paper.

Sandy shook her head, glancing at the sheet of paper and focusing on putting the horse away. "It's yours, left it there for ya." She said, closing the stall and patting the Mudsdale's coat. "Just a written thanks n offer fer ya to stop by if ya ever come back."

Shadow hummed in response, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "If I'm not back in a year, come find me. Never met a woman with enough gumption to try and take on a tiger." He said, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I haven't slept beside someone in so long and you fit nice against me."

Sandy blushed, pulling out of his hold as Kenneth walked towards them. "Think you should head on out now." He said, stepping in front of his daughter.

Shadow flashed a grin, making a show of kissing Sandy's hand. "In a year, sheriff's girl," he promised, leaving the ranch and the town by noon instead.

Glass plates and cups crashed against the floor as Calvin grabbed Sandy, dragging her by the arm to their bedroom. She winced as he squeezed her shoulders.

"Why can't you do anything right?" he yelled, shaking her.

Sandy was quiet as he continued yelling, eyes staring at the floor as she realized how dull her life was now. Her parents had set her up with Calvin about five months ago, said he was charming and a bunch of other mess that clearly wasn't true. She moved, breaking out of his hold and leaving the room to go clean up the broken glass.

She didn't look at the gray squirrel as he continued ranting, going on and on about how she never did anything on time and that her parents' ranch was suffering for it. "If I hadn't known any better, I'd say you were still pining after that fucking outlaw." He said, voice low. "Guess this is what I get for marrying a woman who sleeps with criminals."

"I don't see you gettin' up to tend to the field n feedin' the animals." She shot back, steeling herself as Calvin grew quiet, his shoes clicking against the floor as he walked towards her. "Don't you dare bring Shadow into this."

"Excuse me?" he asked, crouching down to her level. "Come on, hon, I didn't hear you." He continued, grabbing her face so she'd look at him.

Sandy wasn't sure what happened after that as the dull buzz in her body grew and tingled under her skin. When she came back to herself, her back and shoulder hurt like she had been slammed against the floor and a gun was in her hand. Calvin was on the living room floor, eyes unfocused and blood pooling underneath him.

Sandy was positive she couldn't wait an entire year. She was looking for him now.