The sun was shining, the air was cool and everyone in Harmony was at the Bennet house. It was their annual 4th of July party. Burgers were on the grill, beer was in the cooler, and everyone was having and great time. Sam and Luis were off to the side of the party nursing a couple of beers and talking cop talk. "So Luis, where's your date?"

Luis grinned, "Come on Sam, you know I don't have time for a girlfriend right now."

"Oh come on. There's always time for love."

Luis left Sam and headed towards the grill. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going when he slammed into someone and knocked them down. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I wasn't- Sheridan! What are you doing here?" Sheridan smiled, "What? Was I not supposed to be invited or something? Should I leave?"

"No! I mean no, I just didn't you would come. I thought you would have some country club thing or something." Sheridan grabbed his arm, "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not like my father or Julian."

Luis sighed, "That's not what I meant." Sheridan smiled, "Well anyway, I'm here. Where were you going?"

"To get something to eat. You want something?"

"Sure." They walked closely together, oblivious of everyone else."

Theresa and Whitney watched the two. "See Whitney. I told you they like each other."

"For once I think your right. They look really happy together."

* * *

"What do you want to drink, Sheridan?" Sheridan looked in the coolers and said with a grin, "Whatever your drinking." Luis laughed and handed her a Bud Light in a bottle. They walked over to a bench and sat down to eat and drink.

Miguel and Kay walked up to them. "Hey bro. What's up?"

"Not much man. Where's Charity?"

"Well, we had a fight and now she's with Reese. Luis, you know Kay Bennet

don't you? I just realized that Kay is the perfect girl for me."

"It's nice to meet you Kay. I hope you and Miguel are happy together," Sheridan told them.

"Thank you Sheridan. I hope you and Luis are happy too." Kay and Miguel went back to the party, and left them alone.

Sheridan was blushing and Luis cleared his throat, "I wonder what Kay meant by that?"

Sheridan laughed nervously, "I don't have a clue."

All of a sudden they heard a CRASH and ROAR from Tabitha's house. Luis jumped up and ran towards her house with Sheridan right behind him. "What do you think that was, Luis?"

"I don't know. Stay behind me and be careful." The door to Tabitha's was wide open and there were signs of a struggle. "Tabitha! Are you here? This is Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald. Are you here?"

"What if she's hurt and can't answer you?" They searched the house and found no sign of Tabitha anywhere. They went into the front room and saw a huge antique book on the couch. "Look at this book Luis! It has to be at least 100 years old. Wow! It looks like some kind of 'spell' book."

Luis looked over her shoulder, "Come on. You don't believe in magic, do you?"

"Of course not. Look at this though. It says, 'Take me back to the place where I am the only one for miles, the mornings are an endless blue, and you feel mother nature walk along with you, where the men are men and the women tame them.' It's pretty."

"Oh Come on! It doesn't even rhyme." Luis took the book from her and put it down. "Let's go." They walked towards the door and stepped out.The sight that met them was amazing to say the least. The streets were dirt, there were horses in the road, and the people looked like they had just stepped off the set of Young Guns. "What's going on Luis? Where are

we?"

"I don't know Sheridan." Luis bent over and picked up a piece of a newspaper the date said, July 1st 1853. Sheridan saw it and fainted in Luis's arms.

Chapter 2

"What's going on Luis? Where are we?"

"I don't know Sheridan." Luis bent over and picked up a piece of a newspaper the date said, July 1st 1853. Sheridan saw it and fainted in Luis's arms.

"Sheridan! Sheridan wake up!" Luis picked her up and slung her over his shoulder, and looked for somewhere to take her. He spotted a hotel across the street. 'Wait a minute, I don't have any money,' he thought. Then he saw a general store. Behind the counter was a pleasant looking woman. "Hello. Can I help you?" Luis stood Sheridan up and held her there, "Yeah. Do you have a place I can lay her down?" "Oh my goodness! Where are my manners?

Come right this way. Edith! Come up here and watch the counter." A stout unhappy looking woman came up tp the counter. "Alright Gertie. Go on."The woman called Gertie lead Luis to a room in the back of the store. There was a bed and a basin of water. "Do you need anything, sir?"

"Yes. Can I get a washcloth or sponge?"

"No problem. I'll be right back."

Luis laid Sheridan on the bed gently. He brushed a stray piece of hair off her forehead. The woman came back with a soft cloth for Luis. He dipped the cloth in the water and lightly dabbed her face. Her eyelids fluttered. She spoke softly, "Luis?" She opened her eyes and saw his face looking down at her.

"Hey Sheridan. You scared me there for a minute."

Sheridan chuckled, "Yeah, me too. I had the weirdest dream."

"Um, Sheridan? It wasn't a dream. We really are in 1853." Sheridan's eyes widened, "Oh my god! How is this possible?"

"I don't know. I still can't believe it, but I'm seeing it with my own eyes so I have to." Gertie stood by the door nervously, "Is your wife going to be alright?"'

Luis and Sheridan looked at each other. Sheridan smiled, "We aren't

married. Yes, I'm feeling much better. Thank you. I just had a shock."

"Well I guess so. Why are you wearing men's trousers, honey?"

Sheridan looked down at her clothes, "What are you talking-" Luis interrupted her, "Um, we were on our way here when our stagecoach was hijacked and everything we had was stolen."

"Oh you poor dears. Let me go talk to my sister and see if we can help."

After Gertie left Sheridan turned to Luis. "What are you doing!? What stagecoach?!"

"Listen Sheridan, if we had told her the truth we would be locked up in a looney bin forever. It's going to be ok. I've seen enough Bonanza episodes to get us through this." She rolled her eyes at him.

Gertie came back with a frown on her face. "I'm sorry. Edith won't agree to do anything for you. I'm so sorry. I did get this outfit for you though. You just can't go around in that getup. You can change back here then you need to get going." Luis started to leave with Gertie when Sheridan grabbed his arm. "Luis. Please don't leave me." He saw that there were tears in her eyes. "Just turn around, but don't leave."

Luis did as she asked, but fought himself to keep from turning around. "Ok. I need you to help me with the buttons on this shirt." She turned around and Luis saw a row of buttons from the small of her back to the top of her neck. He cleared his throat and swallowed loudly. Sheridan gasped when she felt his warm fingers accidently brush her skin. When he was finished she turned around. "Luis, no matter what happens I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise that you won't ever leave me."

"Sheridan, why-"

"Promise me, Luis. Your the only real, solid thing here. I can't make it here on my own. I need you."

"Sheridan, it's ok. I promise."

She walked over to him and put her arms around him tightly.

"I'll never leave you, Sheridan."

She looked into his eyes and they moved closer to one another. Luis started to lower his head to kiss her when Gertie walked in.

"Oh dear! I'm sorry. I'll go."

"No, it's ok. We're ready to go now."

Gertie led them to the door and gave Sheridan a flour sack full of food.

"Thank you so much for what you've done."

"Oh I just wish I could have done more."

They stepped onto the porch and looked the town over. There was a blacksmith, saloons, hotels, gambling halls, dress shop, bank, jail and grocery store. "Well where do we go now?" Sheridan asked him. Luis didn't hear her. He was busy watching the group of men entering the bank. "Wait right here. I mean it. Don't move." Luis walked over to the bank, and looked in the window. It was being robbed. 'Great! Just great. Now what do I do.'

He saw the horses out front, with a man guarding them. He walked up behind the man quietly and tapped him on the shoulder. As the man turned around Luis punched him with all his might. The man fell to the ground in a heap.

Luis picked up his gun and grabbed the horses. He lead the horses around to the side of the bank.

All the townspeople were now watching him. Luis stood to the right of the door, and when the bank robbers came running out looking for their horses, Luis pistol whipped two of them and pointed the gun at the other two. "Well now. Looks like we have a problem."

"Ain't no problem stranger. Just put that gun down and let us go. Problem solved."

"I don't think so," Luis saw one of them reach for their gun, "Now I wouldn't do that if I were you. See I might not get both of you, but I'll sure as hell get one of you. Whose it going to be?" The men looked nervously at one another and the taller one said, "Aw, hell. Ben you cain't do nothin right." They threw their guns down and surrendered.

Luis looked in the crowd, "Is there a sheriff anywhere?" A small man with a top hat and handle bar moustache approached Luis. "Looks like we just found one. Son, your the new sheriff of Perfection."

Chapter 3

"Looks like we just found one. Son, your the new sheriff of Perfection."

Luis just looked at the man, "Excuse me?"

"Son, I'm Mayor Taylor and you just did something amazing. You stopped the McLane gang from robbing a bank. I want to make you the new sheriff of Perfection."

"What in the hell is Perfection?" Luis asked.

"Why that's the name of this here fine town."

Luis looked around, "It doesn't look that fine to me."

"Well, then you just might be the man to clean it up. We haven't had a sheriff for two years. Listen if money is a problem, here's your first months salary and you can have the room above the jail to live in. You'll have a line of credit at almost every store in town too." Just the Sheridan came over and asked what was going on. Luis filled her in. "You should take it Luis! Who knows how long we will be stuck here. I know it will be

dangerous, but we have nothing."

"Your right Sheridan. Sir, I'll take the job, but I can't guarantee how long we'll be in town."

"That's fine sir. Is this your wife?"

"No, she's a friend."

The Mayor gave Luis his money and directions to the jail and suggestions on where to buy clothes. Luis and Sheridan made it to the jail and went up to the room. Room wasn't quite the word one would call it. Closet would of been a better description There was only one bed and a bath tub in the corner. That was about the extent of the room. Luis fell on the bed and groaned.

"What's the matter with you?" Sheridan wanted to know.

Luis opened one of his eyes. "Did you not just see what I did? My hand feels like its broke."

"Then you shouldn't of been playing cowboy."

"You forget that I got us a room and some money. Who knows how long we'll be here?" Sheridan quit arguing with him and surveyed the room. She looked behind the screen and couldn't believe her eyes. "Luis! You won't believe what I'm seeing?"

"Let me guess Sheridan, there are no handles or spouts?"

"How did you know?!"

"I paid attention in history class. Just so it won't come as a shock to you, you won't find a toilet anywhere either. You better get used to an outhouse or chamber pot."

"Oh my God! Where are we, hell!!?" Sheridan pushed Luis over and laid down too.

"What are you doing Sheridan?"

"Nothing. Shut up I'm too tired to argue with you now." They both fell asleep in peaceful silence.

* * *

Sheridan woke up just as dawn was breaking. 'Thank God it was just a dream' she thought to herself. Then she realized she could smell a faint strange odor and there was a very warm body next to her. 'Oh God, why am I being punished so?'

Chapter 4

Sheridan woke up just as dawn was breaking. 'Thank God it was just a dream' she thought to herself. Then she realized she could smell a faint strange odor and there was a very warm body next to her. 'Oh God, why am I being punished so?'

Sheridan nudged Luis to wake him. He didn't move a muscle. She patted his face and leaned down and whispered his name. He moaned softly. Sheridan lost her patience and screamed, "Luis! Get up!" Luis sat bolt right up in bed. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. Didn't people in the west always get up at dawn?"

Luis rolled his eyes and rubbed his face, "I guess."

They both got out of bed and washed their face with the icy water in the basin. Then they went down stairs to the jail and explored it. Luis looked through the papers on the desk, which had a two inch layer of dust on it, and Sheridan studied the wanted posters. "Luis! I think I saw this guy in the street yesterday."

Luis laughed, "Come on Sheridan, all those pictures look the same. It's the generic man."

They straightened up the jail and cleaned it. By the time they were finished with that, the mayor came in.

The mayor surveyed the jail, "Well now, looks like you got this all ready to go." Luis and the mayor started talking about what they needed to do to clean up the town.

"Well, I think you need to ban guns within city limits. Build a little stand on the city limits and hire someone to check the guns."

"That's a great idea, sheriff. Miss, will you right these down?"

Sheridan picked up what looked like a pencil and a piece of paper and started writing.

"Next, we might want to see about enforcing a town curfew for the teenagers. Keep them out of trouble and off the streets."

"These are just great ideas."

"Well mayor, thank you. But I'd like you to tell me what my arresting powers are and what all I need to do." Sheridan listened while the mayor and Luis figured things out. Soon the mayor left and Sheridan and Luis were alone.

"What am I supposed to do, Luis?"

"You can start by going down to the general store and getting some things that we will need. Tell them to put in on the sheriff's account."

Sheridan left the office in a huff. She couldn't stand depending on Luis for money. She wasn't used to their situations being reversed. She went to the general store and bought soap, clothes, towels, a lantern cause the one in their room was broke, matches, and other things.

When she got back to the jail Luis was gone so she sat in his chair and thought about how they were going to get back home. 'It had to of been something in Tabitha's house.' Sheridan thought. Suddenly a thought struck her, 'What if Tabitha was a witch?! She has been around since Alistair was younger. That's it! It had to of been a spell that she had read.' Sheridan was so excited about what she figured out that she couldn't wait to talk to

Luis. She ran out of the jail and went looking for him. Sheridan saw him walk into a bar, so she followed him. She wasn't prepared for what she saw next. Walking up the stairs was Luis holding some soiled dove's hand. Tears filled her eyes and she almost ran out of the bar. Then she realized she was going to fight for Luis. He was hers, damn it. She ran up the steps and yelled his name. He turned around with a look of surprise on his face. The girl looked Sheridan up and down, "Go find yourself another man. This ones

mine."

Sheridan did the only thing she could think of. She got right in the girl's face and yelled, "Get your nasty hands off of my husband!" Luis's eyes widened. The girl dropped his hand and went back downstairs. Sheridan could tell that Luis was enraged. He grabbed her roughly, and escorted her back to their room. He was silent the whole way.

He opened the door to their room and pushed her in. "What were you doing Sheridan? Are you out of your mind?"

"Are you kidding me? If you want to play 'doctor' with that hoocie, then by all means don't let little ole me stop you."

Luis started laughing.

"Shut up, Luis. Don't laugh at me please." Luis finally got his laughter under control, "You thought I was going up their with her for a little fun? She was going to tell me about the McClane gang. There are more of them and she was going to tell me where the hide out is. Were you jealous?"Sheridan turned her back on him, "Of course not." Luis just smiled.

Chapter 5

"So why did you come looking for me anyway?"

Sheridan told him all about what she thought.

"As much as I don't want to believe it, I think your right. That old lady has been around forever." Sheridan and Luis thought about how they were going to get back and drew a blank. "Well, Sheridan as much as I want to stay here and figure out a way back, I need to go back to work."

"Be careful, Luis." Instead of thanking her, like Sheridan thought he would, Luis yelled at her.

"Don't say that! It's a death wish! Now I'm going to end up dead in some alley."

Sheridan laughed at him and sent him on his way. After a while she got bored and looked longingly at the bathtub. 'I wish it had spouts. I've never missed spouts so much in my life.'

Sheridan went next door to the hotel and filled up buckets with water and heated them on their stove, and carried them to their room. She did this until the tub was almost full. She sank into the water with a sigh. She had two extra buckets to rinse off with next to her. She lost all track of time and before she knew it, Luis was walking in the room.

"Sheridan, I-" Luis stopped mid-sentence and stared at her. Neither of them moved for what seemed like ages. Finally he turned around sharply. "I'm sorry I didn't realize."

"No Luis it's my fault. I forgot the time." Luis sat down on the bed and tried to concentrate on something other than the thought of Sheridan in the tub. He cleared his throat, "I hired a deputy today."

"Really? Who is it?"

"A kid named Tom Magrath. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders and he will be a good sheriff, when he has to take over for me."

"That's good. I was thinking maybe we should ask around and see if any of Tabitha's relatives are around here."

"That's a good idea. We'll look tomorrow. We got the McClane gang today. The tip from that girl paid off."

"That's great!"

Sheridan stood up to rinse herself off. Luis could hear the sounds of water splashing and willed himself not to turn around. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and sneaked a peek. After all, she had seen him naked in the locker room. After he looked he wished he hadn't. Now he couldn't think of anything else, but her.

Sheridan saw him turn around and smiled secretly to herself.

It was torture for him to have to sleep next to her every night and not be able to touch her, especially when she pressed up against him for warmth in the night.

The next day Sheridan woke up alone. There was money on the table for her lunch, and a list of things to do. Everyday she ate her meals at the hotel restaurant. It still angered her that she had to rely on him for money.

Plus, she was supposed to be his maid too? She was used to being independent. She was going to do something about it right now. She got dressed and headed down to the saloon. 'We'll see how he likes this,' she thought.

When Luis got home that night Sheridan wasn't in the room. Luis was a little worried. He went back out to try and find her. He looked in every store that was open and still there was no sign of her. The only place he hadn't looked was the saloon. 'She can't be in there,' he thought. But he looked anyway.

Sheridan saw Luis enter the saloon and started dancing more provocatively.Luis looked at all the faces in the crowd and didn't see her. He was about to leave when he glanced up a the dancing girls. He saw Sheridan in the middle looking right at him. She looked beautiful, but she didn't belong up there. She belongs in a nice house with a beautiful family. He stormed up to the stage and hefted her over his shoulder. She pounded on his back, and screamed at him. He took her outside and dumped her in a horse trough. She

came up sputtering, "How dare you! What is your problem?"Luis helped her out then said, "Why were you up there!? You could have been raped! You are so stubborn and stupid."

"Hey! I was just making some money. Nothing was going to happen to me."It suddenly hit him, "You can't stand that I make the money can you? You hate not having your own money! That Crane name means nothing here, and you hate that."

Sheridan just looked and him and realized she had become someone she didn't know. "I'm sorry, Luis. I don't know what's a matter with me." She started crying.

'Great! Now I made her cry,' he thought. He pulled her close and said, "It's ok, Sheridan. I know its hard to get used to different circumstances. I know it would be hard for me if I suddenly had a lot of money. Your only human." With that they went back to the jail. "Oh! We forgot to look for Tabitha's relatives today."

"Ok. First thing tomorrow that's what we'll do."

Chapter 6

When they woke up the next morning they decided how they were going to look for Tabitha's relatives. "Maybe we should just ask around." Sheridan said."That's a start. Let's go ask the mayor first." They found the mayor and ask him if he knew of anyone around that fit Tabitha's description or acted like her.

"Well, now that you mention it, there is a crazy old lady that lives way out in the desert. Lord knows how she survives out there, but that's where she lives."

"How long of a ride is it out there?" Luis wanted to know.

"I'd say a least two days if you hurried." On their way back to the jail, the newspaper photographer stopped them and took a picture of the new sheriff and his 'wife.' Sheridan and Luis hurried back to the jail and left a note on the desk saying what should be done if they didn't come back. They packed up all their stuff and got food and water for the trip. They only had one horse, so they loaded up the saddle bags and headed out. Sheridan was

sitting behind Luis with her arms wrapped around him.Luis was glad when they stopped for the night. He couldn't take having her arms wrapped around him, or her breasts pressed against him either. He tried to ignore her at the campsite, but that was next to impossible. "Sheridan."Sheridan stopped what she was doing and looked at him. She had never heard him say her name that way. "Yes, Luis?"

Luis cleared his throat, "Do you think that there will ever be a chance for us?"

Sheridan's eyes softened and she walked over to him, "We have tonight, Luis.

No one can ever take it from us." He reached up and pulled her down for a searing kiss. He knew in his heart that this was the way love was supposed to be. Luis let go of her and looked into her eyes, "Your sure about this?""Luis, I've never been more sure of anything in my life." With that he laid her on the blankets and they made passionate love all night. In the morning just before the sun rose Luis asked her, "Any regrets?"

Sheridan smiled and looked at him, "Only one. We should have done that a lot sooner." Luis laughed and kissed the top of her head. He let her sleep for a few hours while he got everything packed up. He woke her gently and put her in the saddle in front of him so she could lean against him and sleep.They had been riding for hours when Luis saw the house. "Is that the house?" Sheridan asked. "I think so. There's only one way to find out."

Luis tied the horse to the stand and him and Sheridan knocked on the door. Out came a woman who look exactly like Tabitha, not even a year younger.

"What do you want?"

"Are you a relative of Tabitha Lennox?" Sheridan asked.

"No, I am her."

Sheridan and Luis looked at each other, "Do you find if we come in?"

She let them in and waited for them to tell her what they wanted. Sheridan and Luis filled her in on how they got there. Tabitha rolled her eyes, "If you snooping people would stay on your own property then these things wouldn't happen."

One minute Sheridan and Luis were standing in the old west talking to her, the next they were at Sam Bennett's party. "Hey! There you guys are! I've been looking everywhere for you two." It was Sam. "Sam! Man, I'm I glad to see you." Luis and Sheridan went around hugging everyone and talking to them all. "You both act like you've been away for days, not hours." Sheridan and Luis looked at each other and smiled. They broke away from the crowd and Luis asked Sheridan, "So are things different now that we're back?"

"You mean between us?"

"Yeah, because I want to be a part of your life Sheridan. I don't want to go another day without you by my side."

"I love you, too Luis. I want to grow old with you."

Luis laughed and picked her up and swung her around. They went back to the party and in the middle of the crowd Luis kissed Sheridan like she had never been kissed before. Everyone around them gasped and Sheridan and Luis just smiled.

Two years later.......

Pilar stopped over at Luis and Sheridan's house to drop off a gift. "I know it's been a couple of months since the wedding, but I just had to get this for you." Luis and Sheridan unwrapped the present Pilar handed them and gasped. In their hands was an old newspaper with the picture of them in the old west. The one the newspaper had taken. "When I saw it at the antique store I just had to buy it. The similarities are just too stunning. Those people look exactly like you and have the same names. How odd is that? I guess the Cranes and Lopez-Fitzgerald really are meant for each other."