(Author's note: Been playing with photoshop. If anyone wants like unofficial cover art or such, message me)

It was a dry heat River stirred in. Why was she waking? She hadn't learned anything yet. Someone behind her grunted and an arm curled around her.

River rolled on her side and smiled lightly. Under the sheet with her was the unmistakable Sam.
"Hi." She whispered. He smiled and opened his eyes.
"Hey."

It took a moment for her to understand what was happening. It occurred to him at the same time.
River? Why is she...why are we...oh my god! Then he started yelling and she started screaming. They scrambled off opposite ends of the bed and she was on the floor, holding the mattress as she peeked over it. Sam was holding a sheet around his lower half as he held his head. They paused for a moment as River pulled a cover around herself. Then they resumed yelling.

They were only silenced by the door bursting open as an older woman with brown hair burst in. She was dressed in a white shirt with long sleeves, a vest, denim pants, and a bow tie. Through her random thoughts River made out she was a barkeeper and the blonde girl behind her was her daughter. And the barkeeper had a shot gun.

"What in the Hell are you yelling about?" The brunette exclaimed as Sam stared at her.
"Ellen?"
"Were you hitting the bottle a little too hard Sheriff?" She raised an eyebrow. "I'm Collene. You know. I own the whole saloon. Rowena over there works as one the dancers with my daughter Jean."

River read a stray thought of Sam. It was about Jean. Jo?
"Way you two were hollering we thought a wendingo got it." Jean pointed out.
"Sheriff...?" River glanced at Sam as everything processed in her mind.

Collene raised an eyebrow as Jean snorted.
"Sheriff Samuel Colt? He's been courting you for some time. Must have been some night you two had."
"Jean!"
"What? Neither of them remembers shit about anything and they both have those pentagram tattoos. I'd say they screwed each others' brains out."

Sam was blushing. River was confused. Collene face palmed and began pulling her daughter out of the room.
"We'll let you two get decent."

As soon as the door shut Sam looked to River.
"What is going on?"
"Missouri put me in a slumber so I would recall...memories of my soul."
"A past life?" Sam exclaimed. "Why am I here then?"
"Well I think this is your past life and..." River exhaled. "Crowley said something like this might happen. Because of our connection."
"How does it end?"
"I don't know." River exhaled. "I need to see something, apparently."
"So we're stuck here?"
"Best make the best of it." River smiled weakly, "You're the famous Samuel Colt."
"And you're a saloon dancer named Rowena."
"Who you've been courting."
"That explains waking up together."
"Right. Sam?" River tilted her head.
"Yeah?"
"What does 'screwed each others' brains out' mean? It doesn't make sense. 'Screw' is a noun. It refers to a small threaded piece of metal. How can it be used as a verb?"

Sam placed his face in his palm as he shook his head.
"We should get dressed. I think these are yours..." He held up a corset and frilled skirt.
"And yours." River held up what she believed to be pants without backs. Sam chuckled for a moment.
"Chaps. But where are my pants?"

River's face showed her confusion. Sam sat at the edge of the bed and exhaled.
"Chaps go over normal pants. They make horseback riding easier."
"Horses?" River looked up hopefully.

Sam laughed and paused for a moment.
"So did we go back in time or deep into our minds?"
"Why do you ask?" River dropped the sheet, not understanding modesty. She'd been repeating his actions earlier. Sam flipped around in response to her actions.
"I can't hear him."

River had pulled on most of the ridiculous dress, but now she paused.
"You mean Lucifer?"
"I mean." Sam nodded once. River beamed and faced him as she pulled on her plumed headband.
"I can live with this reality for a while."