[Summer – Dew Fall City]

“Wow this place sure has changed since the last time I was here… and not for the better either,” jested Jennings as the short-handed group ventured into Dew Fall City limits.

“Hey! You're talking with a Dew Fallian, born-and-raised here, show a bit of respect won't ya'?” Penny’s rebuttal had a playfully agitated look upon her youthful, furrowed face.

It was an unorthodox pairing that occurred a short time ago in the Shadow Valley Desert. Now the hour had come to stop residing outside of her comfort zone and return back to her family.

“I only respect holes that aren't shit, if ya' sense my drift,” Jennings stared stoic, content with himself.

“Well then you must not respect yourself. Cause you're quite the asshole aren't you?” Penny let out with a mischievous snarl.

“Give ya' kudos for that one lil' lady, but that’s it,” said Jennings, nodding his rugged jaw in approval.

It had been over a week since the meeting finished and Isaac had left with Isiah willingly. Penny had noticed that it wasn't a popular topic of conversation with Jennings.

It appeared he had simply given up on the only family member he had remaining, and she knew how important family once was to her, so she could only envision the pain buried behind that emotionless face that Jennings constantly sported.

Penny tried once again to bring up Isaac in conversation and hoped to find out how exactly Jennings was feeling about the situation.

“So… before we reach my house, you got anything you wanna talk about? You know my old schoolmates used to call me a great listener.”

“If that's the case, then please… shut up,” replied Jennings.

He knew what she was aiming at and he also knew that she was a persistent enough person to not drop it so soon, or until she received some sort of an answer. After stroking Poni's mane and continuing their path down the road, Jennings stared at the rising sun and submitted to her barrage of glances.

“Look, I appreciate the concern. I'm fine, it just kills me to not know if Isaac is. I can't help but think he made the decision to go with that asshole to get back at me or something. Get back for when we were little and I left him.”

Jennings looked back at Penny and locked eyes, showing heated determination before continuing, “I can guran-damn-tee you one thing though. I sure as shit haven't given up on him. I'll think of a way to rescue him from that damn man's wrinkly, ham fingers. And when I do, I'm going to make sure I piss on his corpse.”

Penny remained silent, she was somehow a bit glad, but mainly stupified by the response. A sensation of fulfilled curiosity came to mind. Returning home, while being exposed to what she saw on the road, really opened a window of growth opportunity for her, so she thought.

“You’ll see him again,” she reassured him.

Jennings responded with a simple deep breath, as he kicked Poni's side with his broad heel to pick up the intensity of their ride. This caused Penny to welp.

“Turn here, it's right at the end of this path next to an old market stand,” said Penny.

Jennings had lived up to his unspoken promise made several weeks earlier when they met. He was about to return Penny to her family home in Dew Fall City. A comfy looking sky-blue house was positioned in front of the group. A thick white fence surrounded the front lawn with a sign hanging on the front gate that read “May Family Residence.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Penny had told Jennings in conversation before how excited she was to see her home again, especially after the events that had unfolded. Oddly, she failed to mention much about the family members.

Anticipating, or most accurately hoping, for a relaxing dinner with family was something that always put a smile on Penny's face. She believed that the aforementioned moment had finally arrived, albeit delayed, thanks to Poni and Jennings.

“We're finally here!,” said Penny getting off of Poni's saddle. Barely catching her balance as she dropped.

“Yes ma'am,” responded Jennings. “So you, uh, want us to wait here right?” he asked optimistically.

Penny was still not used to being with such an antisocial person but to his surprise she replied.

“No. You get to meet the May family, aren't you happy?”

Jennings was not amused, however he dropped off Poni and fastened his cowboy hat firmly onto his head by the string, as it was the cordial thing to do.

“Anything look fishy out here ya' let me know buddy,” Jennings mentioned to his horse pal, as he neighed back in approval. Jennings then attempted to wipe the dirt off his pants with poor effort being shown to stall. He began walking alongside Penny up to the doorstep with renewed confidence.

Penny knocked on her house's door knocker, knowing they were unexpected. The wind's breeze carried through their surroundings and even blew some loose papers and tumbleweeds caught in the gust past them. They heard footsteps approach the door before it slowly creaked ajar and revealed a slouched elderly gentleman with bushy eyebrows.

“Daddy!” screamed Penny as she fell into his arms for a heartfelt hug. The two remained in that position for a few seconds before she finally lets go. It seemed apparent that Penny had inherited her father's smile as they both wore it proudly.

“Oh my, Penny, it's so good to see you again. You're gone this amount of time and you return with a man?” jested her father.

Jennings showed that he could reach a nervous expression, as a drip of sweat leaked down from his forehand and it wasn't due to the heat. Just before he overcame his stumbling silence to formulate a response, Penny beat him to it.

“No daddy. It's a long story we'll probably get to but, Henry May meet J-,” she started the introduction before being interrupted.

“Names J.J., sir. Pleasure to make ya' acquaintance,” interjected Jennings before bowing his head as he had a tendency to do when he tried to act too proper.

Henry laughed it off and responded.

“Great, great, come on in you two. I'll tell your mother to get some tea leaves ready for us.”

Jennings and Penny both made their way into the house passing the living room, leading into the kitchen. Penny rushed into the arms of her now-awaiting mother who was stationed in the kitchen wearing a bright orange apron.

She embraced Penny and looked directly at Jennings menacingly.

“This is my wife, Georgie. Honey, this is Penny's friend J.J.,” said Henry.

“Well if he ain’t a handsome one, I don’t know who you waitin’ for?” insisted Georgie. “Nice to meet you J.J., what brings you to Dew Fall?”

“Your daughter actually, to be quite honest,” replied Jennings.

“Oh really? And why’d she drag you out here?” asked Georgie.

Jennings looked at Penny who was now standing between her parents and the criminal in the kitchen. He didn't know whether to tell the truth about what happened or lie to these new acquaintances to not worry them.

“Been a long journey,” Penny declared. “Let's all have a sit to catch up, I’m exhausted!”

She directed everyone toward the kitchen table next to them, pulling a chair for her mother.

“Sure, let's. Georgie honey, can you fix us some tea please?” smiled Henry, this time in his wife’s direction.

The friendly family sat down with Jennings at their table and began to talk about how Jennings and Penny met. Penny does admit the truth to them about their first encounter and both Henry and Georgie both look relieved about the outcome.

The conversation briskly steered away, bouncing from one random topic to another before a thump is heard at the door. His hand was teemed to complete that horrid motion that had found a home in his muscle memory. Ignoring that, he gestured for Henry to sit.

“Ah, well I'm already up, might as well fetch it for ya',” suggested Jennings, making undebatable strides to the front door. He went to the door, lightly unlocked and opened the door cautiously.

“Is it already afternoon,” remarked Georgie from the kitchen. “That must be the newspaper boy with today's delivery!”

“Thank you dear,” responded Georgie, sounding appreciative.

Jennings stood at the door. He didn't see anyone on the property or leaving it either, however once he redirected his attention downward, towards his feet, he noticed the newspaper lying on the ground. Something on the rolled up newspaper stood out to Jennings as he lifted the paper into his reading distance and removed the string holding it closed.

On the front page in giant text read, “John 'J.J. Cool' Jennings spotted in Sureal, bounty raised to $1,000,000 for the dangerous fugitive, dead or alive.”

Jennings grew tense and he quickly tried to think of a way out of this situation safely, before turning around. He stood, fixated on the headline. When Jennings did complete his turn, raising his head slightly, he met the barrel of a shotgun inches away from his face with Henry standing behind it.