"How are you feeling?" Sarah asked, gently stroking his hand on her face. Her fingers moved down to the wrist.
"I don't feel any pain. Are you okay?" Nathan asked. That was all he could ask as she leaned over and covered his mouth with her soft lips. Nathan sighed softly as the warm smell of vanilla assailed his nose and Sarah stroked his face gently.
"Does that answer your question?" Sarah asked, breaking the kiss.
"I guess so. Did they find Darcy?" Nathan asked.
"Bo told me that they are still looking. They also are putting a police detail on you. They think that Darcy might try to kill you," Sarah said, stroking his face gently.
"Really? She said that she loved me. I don't think she'd try that. She'd more try to kill you to separate us," Nathan said, the soft fingers rubbing his face making him feel sleepy.
"Well, she won't be able to try to kill either one of us. Me, your mother, and father are all taking shifts in watching you. The doctor said we could while you were out," Sarah said, smiling briefly.
"I love you," Nathan said softly as he fell asleep. he didn't her Sarah's answer or felt her kiss his lips again.
As Nathan fell back asleep, Sarah leafed through some magazines and a word search book as she waited for Nathan to wake
back up. Sarah decided that they should get married sooner than a month mainly because she didn't want to risk Darcy
trying to separate them again. Sarah could call up a preacher, and have him marry them in the Dukes home. Sarah had
wanted a church wedding but with Nathan off his feet, that wouldn't be possible. They could always have a wedding ceremony
some other time when they Renew their vows. But right now, with the wedding at home they could still be in their formal
wear. Sarah would wear a simple offwhite skinny gown with beads on it and without a veil. Sarah would also do everything
she could to get him back on his feet. Even take him to physical therapy. Sarah saw him wake back up.
"Nathan, we should get married sooner than in a month", she said, telling him her idea.
Nathan listened as she told him her ideas. He knew she was scared that Darcy would try again to separate them again. He really couldn't blame her for being scared. "Is there any other reason why we should marry other than you're scared?" Nathan said, gently running his thumb over her delicate jawline.
"Yes. I want to take care of you. You got hurt because of me," Sarah said, her dark blue eyes filling with tears as she looked into his green eyes.
"I don't know. We have already started making plans," Nathan hesitated.
"Well, we can get married now and then have the ceremony again when you're on your feet," Sarah said as a nurse came in with another clear injection of morphine and chloroform.
"How are you feeling?" The nurse asked as she cleaned a spot on Nathan's neck.
"All right I suppose. My collarbone still hurts a little," Nathan admitted as Sarah grabbed the injection.
"Can this wait a few seconds? I was asking him something and I want his answer before you sedate him," Sarah said sharply.
"All right," the nurse said, going over to a clipboard to give Sarah and Nathan some privacy.
"Please, Nathan. I love you and I want to marry you," Sarah said, pushing a shock of his dark hair out of his eyes.
"I didn't really want to get married like my uncle Bo and aunt Layla did. They married as soon as they met. It worked for him, but I never wanted it for myself," Nathan said, kissing her fingers gently.
"Nathan, you kept that promise. You had a few days to find out about me. But as your wife I want to take care of you and help you with the rehabilitation from this," Sarah said, kissing his lips and chin gently.
"I can't argue with you, can I?" Nathan asked between kisses.
"Nope," Sarah said cheerfully.
"All right. I'll marry you when I get out of this hospital. My parents might not agree with this though," Nathan said, finally giving her an answer.
Sarah squealed and kissed his lips firmly. "I love you," she said between kisses. She stroked his face and hair gently.
She looked up at the nurse. "Okay. You can give him the injection now," Sarah said, handing the shot back to the nurse.
The nurse cleaned a spot on Nathan's neck gently and injected the clear liquid into his neck. Nathan fell asleep in a matter of minutes with Sarah sitting beside him, stroking his face and hair and kissing him every so often
Thanksgiving was a few days later and Nathan was released. The nurses had to put him in a wheel chair until he was able
to walk again. Sarah wheeled him in the house, followed by his parents and sisters. "Welcome home Nathan", she said kissing
him.
"It's good to be home, and good to see my girl", said Nathan. He looked better too Sarah thought. Almost like his old
self. The two of them had planned to tell the Dukes about the upcoming Wedding over ThanksGiving Dinner. While everyone
was filled with food and happy.
Sarah helped Nathan to the table then went to help Lori with bringing out the food. Sandra and Lisa helped out too.
What made this thanksgiving special Sarah thought was that now she had a real family. A real family that appreciated
her.
They were fixing to get ready when the doorbell rang. Sarah answered it and in walked Bo, Layla and the kids. "It's
so good to see you", Sarah gushed and hugged everyone of them. Even the kids. Bo's kids adored Sarah.
As everyone got situated, the doorbell rang again leaving Sarah to wonder who else was stopping by. Sarah answered it
and was surprised when she saw her parents. They were well dressed, had dinner plates, and they didn't appear to be
drinking.
"Mom, Dad, what are you doing here? Coming to insult me more?" asked Sarah crossing her arms. Nathan wheeled himself over
to Sarah's side. "YOur not welcome here", he said icily to her parents.
Travis looked at his daughter "If you let us come in, we can explain. Right now, we just want a second chance to be
with our daughter. I know we was awful before, but, we want to make amends now".
Sarah was speechless and looked at Nathan "Should we let them in?" she asked.
Nathan held Sara as she sat on his lap. With a lot of thinking he had said they could invite her parents in. The condition being that if they insulted him, her, or his family they were going to leave. Travis and Sheila went into the dining room, leaving Sarah and Nathan in the living room.
Sarah had her slender arms around his shoulders and was running her soft fingers through his hair. "I hope we haven't made a mistake, Nathan," Sarah said.
"I hope not either. I still don't know how to tell my parents that we've moved the wedding up," Nathan said, kissing her forehead gently and rubbing her back.
"Nathan, I'm glad you said yes to marrying me sooner," Sarah said, moving her hands to his face and stroking his face gently.
"Me too. I think you're right. I love you though," Nathan breathed softly as her lips touched his gently. he kissed her back, enjoying the smell of vanilla and lavender that she wore.
"I love you too," Sarah said, breaking the kiss.
"In a week you'll be my wife and be cooking me breakfast and waking up in my arms every day," Nathan said as Sarah stood and pushed him towards the dining room.
"We'll be ordering takeout a lot when you get better and when I go on the road," Sarah said, a teasing tone to her voice.
"I like takeout. Especially Chinese," Nathan said as they got to the dining room. Sarah pushed his chair in his spot that Daddy had cleared for him and Sarah sat next to him, holding his hand in her small hand.
Thanksgiving dinner went surprisingly well. Sandra helped feed Nathan since he still couldn't do it well by him self.
Sarah and Nathan's family explained what had happened to Nathan two nights before and how he had saved her life to risk
his own.
Travis looked at Nathan fondly. "I'm so glad that my daughter has found her someone who can protect her better than we
did. We never was there for Sarah much. Not since her brother Sam died a few years back. Sam was alot like you, in
personality, Nathan. He cared for his sister very much. OUr whole family fell apart when Sam died. See, what happened was
this: Sarah and Nathan both was grounded and couldn't go see a Bon Jovi concert they wanted to go to so badly. And they
had tickets to. BOth Sarah and Sam loved Rock. So one night disobeying me and Sheila, Sam and Sarah snuck out, this being
Sam's idea, not Sarah's. Well the two went to the concert and had fun. But then the night ended badly. BOth Sam and Sarah
were in a terrible car wreck and were hospitalized. Sarah made it, but Sam didn't. Ever since then, our family grew apart.
My wife and I drowned our mourning in drugs and drinking. Sarah drowned her sorrow in music and writing and hardly came
out of her room except to eat and bathe. We never talked anymore, or did family things together. We had even stopped
celebrating christmas."
Sarah grew quiet remembering her oldest brother silently. Tears filled her eyes and she still missed him to that day.
She wished they hadn't disobeyed their father, and maybe Sam might still be alive.
"When Sarah needed us the most we weren't there, and we feel horrible about it. Travis and I have begun rehab and
We've been going to a friend's church." said Sheila.
Sarah knew they had to tell Nathan's parent's and hers about the moved up wedding date. She waited to see how everyone
responded to her parents first.
Nathan felt Sarah squeeze his hand tightly. He looked at her face. The pain in her eyes was evident. She hadn't really told him that much about Sam except that he died and it was her fault. Now had to be the best time to change the subject.
"Mama, Daddy, Sarah and I have an announcement to make," Nathan said, softly running his fingers over Sarah's hand gently.
"Yes?" Daddy persisted.
"This is kind of difficult to say. Especially to our parents," Sarah said, trying to help Nathan out.
"How hard can it be?" Lori asked.
"Stay tuned," Nathan said cryptically.
"Just tell us, Son," Luke said.
"Well, you know that Darcy Gregg tried to kill Sarah and me and tried to flirt with me. Well since my accident me and Sarah have had a lot of talks and we've decided to get married next week instead of next month," Nathan said, hesitating slightly. he didn't know how well his parents, Sarah's parents, or everyone else in general might take it. He looked around the room at all of their faces for a reaction.
Lori Leigh's fork dropped on the table. Everyone went silent for a good few minutes while they thought of what to say.
Lori Leigh knew that her son and his girlfriend were madly in love just like Bo and Layla fell in love and the way her
and Luke fell in love. And Lori could understand out of all people why the two wanted to move the wedding up. Because
they didn't want Darcy to do anything to tear them apart, and partly because Sarah was scared. But most of all, Lori
knew Sarah loved Nathan and took care of him so good around the house. She couldn't see no one else with her son.
It was shocking and surprising to everyone else at the table including Sarah's real parents. But they didn't seem angry.
They seemed happy for her . "My baby is getting married", said Sheila smiling so proudly at her daughter.
Travis just smiled and looked at them "I always knew this day would come, that some young man would ask my daughter to
marry him. I'm just happy that she's found the right one".
All eyes turned towards Nathan's parents. Lori was still speechless trying to find words. "Um, This is a surprise! But,
we can't blame you for wanting to move the wedding up.You guys are so much in love that its evident in your faces. You
both fell in love the same way Bo and Layla did", said Lori "Im okay with you marrying early but only if that's what
the two of you really want". She looked at Luke waiting for him to respond.
Meanwhile, Darcy was at her big Mansion in the Hazzard County. She had a big yard and Servants. Sam Summers was her
Servant. Ever since finding him in an accident, Darcy brought him here to work for her. In return, she paid him.
Darcy had also noticed he had bad memory for awhile. She told him he had no family and that she found him in a car
crash. BUt she made no mention of a younger sister in the car with him. "Hi, Sam. Could you go and make me some lunch,
then come rub lotion on me? I want to go for a tan". said Darcy flashing him her pretty smile. She didn't know that
Sam would find out about his sister and what happened and get his memory back.
After Darcy had tanned by the pool and eaten her lunch she had requested that Sam give her feet a pedicure. Normally Sam wouldn't have done this, but Darcy was so beautiful he would have given her a thousand pedicures if it made her happy.
"Sam, are you happy here?" Darcy asked, a slow smile on her face as he rubbed a sore spot on one of her feet.
"Happy enough. I don't remember anything before my accident. All I know is that you saved my life and gave me a job," Sam said, looking into her gorgeous blue eyes. Everything about her was perfect. Her golden blonde hair and blue eyes was what he thought an angel should have. Even the clothes she was wearing looked perfect. She wore a simple pink tanktop and shorts.
"If you're so happy why don't you kiss me, Sam?" Darcy asked, pulling her foot out of his hands and scooting right in front of him.
"I work for you, Miss Darcy," Sam said, her perfume strong in his nose.
"I've always wanted to kiss you," Darcy said, her mouth mere inches from his.
"Really?" Sam asked. Darcy smiled as she touched his lips with hers. Sam kissed her back, twining his fingers through her hair. Darcy smiled at him as she broke the kiss.
"Now are you happy, Sam?" She asked, tracing his jaw with her delicate fingers.
"Yes," Sam said breathlessly. He had always wanted to kiss her, but he wasn't sure if she'd like it.
"If you liked it, would you marry me?" Darcy asked, running her hands through his hair.
"I never heard of a woman proposing," Sam asked, her hands smelling like apples as they gently stroked his hair and face.
"I'm the first," Darcy said, kissing his lips again.
"Yes. I'll marry you. When?" Sam asked, as Darcy kissed his nose, mouth, chin, and forehead gently.
"Good. We'll marry as soon as possible. I think now it's time for you to go cook dinner, Handsome," Darcy said, giving him one more kiss.
Sam got up and walked into the mansion, feeling almost as if he were walking on air. Darcy loved him and wanted to marry him! But deep down something felt wrong. Girls that had servants didn't fall for the servant. Something had to be wrong, but Sam couldn't put his finger on it
Darcy smiled ruefully as Sam went back into the Mansion. She had him brainwashed well and just hoped he never found out
what all she had tried to do to get rid of Sarah. Darcy still wanted Nathan, but the boy was just being so stubborn. Darcy
guessed that she would have to just keep on trying to kill Sarah.
When Darcy had rescued Sam, she left Sarah in the car trapped and hurt. She wanted Sam to believe that his sister and
family was dead. What she didn't want him to believe was that she wanted his sister dead. Darcy was so jealous of her.
Sarah had the perfect life. She was a singer, had a hot boyfriend that was a firefighter and her bodyguard part-time.
She didn't know how good she had it in life. Sure, being rich had its perks, but what Darcy wanted was a bunch of good
looking guys falling for her and worshipping the entire ground she walked on. Darcy decided to go and see what else she could
come up with to try to kill Sarah once again.
Sarah sat up in her room that night thinking about Sam. Everyone else had gone to bed or so she thought and her thoughts
began to wonder. Sarah missed Sam so much that she cried every day blaming the whole thing on herself. Sarah grabbed a
picture of her and Sam taken at her sixteenth birthday party. "I'm so sorry, Sam, it's all my fault. If we hadn't
snuck out, you'd still be here". Sarah began to cry. She didn't know at the moment Sam was alive and was living with
Darcy and had agreed to marry her. Sarah fell asleep on her window sill cuddling up with her and Sam's picture.
Earlier that night, both the Dukes had been Happy hearing about the wedding had been moved up. Nathan's father wasn't
angry or shocked, but happy for them both and would help them with what they needed.
Sarah drove Nathan to rehab the next day. The doctors were trying to get him walking little by little. It was slow going and a pain, but Sarah sat there the whole time telling him he could do it. After the physical therapy Sarah and Nathan drove into Hazzard for the noon meal. Neither one aware that Darcy was there shopping for her wedding.
Sam had gone with Darcy into town and she had him carrying all the dresses she wanted to get. She actually told him that she liked it if he went shopping with her. Sam just couldn't see that Darcy was using him to get to Sarah.
"So what do you think of this, Sammie?" Darcy asked, holding up a lacy dress.
"It's pretty," Sam said, trying not to wince at Sammie. For some reason he hated that name.
"I think this is the one I want," Darcy said, taking all the dresses out of Sam's arms and giving him the lacy one.
"Okay. I don't know that much about dresses," Sam said as Darcy wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and stroked his hair gently.
"Are you hungry? We could go for burgers. I know a burger place," Darcy asked after the two of them kissed.
"A little," Sam said as she buried her head in his chest.
What Sam didn't know was that Darcy was bringing him to that restaurant because she knew Nathan and Sarah went there every day and she wanted Nathan to be jealous.
Sarah and Nathan both were sitting in the restaurant eating their favorite cheeseburgers. Whenever they were alone, they
often liked to come here on dates. Sarah was impressed with Nathan this afternoon in therapy. He did extremely well and
without overdoing hisself.
Sarah was excited about their upcoming wedding. She had already picked out a dress. It was a creme colored sequin gown
skinny like her figure and didn't have a long train. She had plained on wearing her hair wavy and wear a crown but she
didn't want was a veil. The wedding plans were finalized. They would get married at the Duke home inside the livingroom.
Luke and Lori had a big house to put a wedding in it. Later on, when Nathan was better, they would have a bigger ceremony.
Taking care of Nathan wasn't easy. Sarah had to bath him regulary, brush his teeth, feed him, but she felt responsible
about his accident and since she was going to be his wife, felt like it was her job to help take care of him.
When Sarah wasn't taking care of Nathan, she spent time with her band practicing every weekend. They redid the show at the
nightclub and everything went well. Nathan's father, Luke, was her bodyguard and Will too on some nights since Nathan
couldn't do the work yet. Darcy had been banned from the nightclub.
Sarah had a good time talking to Nathan and felt stress free until she saw Darcy walk in with another man. Another man
that made her freeze. He looked so much like her dead brother Sam! No, it couldn't be, Sarah thought feeling her heart
thudding in her chest. Sam is dead. He couldn't be alive. If he was, what could he possibly want with a girl like Sarah?
Sarah's eyes locked with the young man's who was with Darcy. For some odd reason, Sam found Sarah looking at him and recog
nized her from somewhere so he stared back. Both each trying to figure out if they knew each other.
"Don't look now, but Darcy has another man and it's only been a week since she's lusted after you. Look at who she's
with! That looks like my brother Sam!" Sarah hissed. Sarah's hair was wavy that afternoon, and she wore brown dress
pants and a cream colored shirt.
Nathan tried to look at Darcy and the guy she was with without either one knowing that he was looking at them. The guy had brown wavy hair and Darcy had her hand on his shoulder and was nuzzling his neck.
"You're right on two scores on this. He does look like that picture of Sam you have and she has no problems getting guys to notice her," Nathan said as he turned his attention back to Sarah and gently ran his fingers over her soft hand.
"Maybe he's just a lookalike. Sam died," Sarah said, looking at Darcy and the guy she was with. The guy looked like he was in love with Darcy. Apparently he didn't know Darcy's faults. Or he did and he just didn't want to see them.
Sam sat across from Darcy as she stroked his hand and wrist gently. They had just ordered their food and drinks. Darcy raised her hand to his face and gently massaged it with her hand. The warm smell of lotion caused him to breathe deeply.
"Well, after we eat we'll go get your tuxedo," Darcy said, running her thumb over his lips.
"Sounds good," Sam said as Darcy then kissed his lips gently.
"Could you do me a favor?" Darcy asked, breaking the kiss.
"What?" Sam asked, tracing her delicate jawline with his fingers.
"You see that girl over there and the boy she's with. Well, they hurt me. I want you to help me get even," Darcy said, shocking him.
"I can't do that!" Sam asked, bolting out of his seat.
"If you love me and want to marry me you'll help me," Darcy said, her blue eyes full of happiness.
"I do love you and want to marry you," Sam said, hesitating as he looked at the brunette and the guy she was with.
"Well then, help me," Darcy persisted gripping his hands and he sat back down in his seat.
"You won't kill them, will you?" Sam asked.
"Of course not. I just need your help, Baby," Darcy said, kissing his mouth. Whatever other argument he had went out of his head as the girl he loved kissed him.
"All right. I'll help you," Sam said between kisses.
"Good. And I promise they won't get hurt," Darcy said. She looked smug and happy. If Sam had known that she was going to break her promise to him he never would have helped her.
"So what are their names?" Sam asked as they left the restaurant.
"Sarah and he's Nathan Duke, her fiancee. I just want to send them a gift for their wedding," Darcy said blithely.
"What did they do to you?" Sam asked as they got into her mercedes.
"I was once in love with her fiancee and he picked Sarah over me. That was before I met you," Darcy explained as she started the car.
The next week...
Sarah had gotten married to Nathan Duke and was now Mrs. Duke. They had a short, but beautiful ceremony in his parent's
livingroom. The whole time, Sarah and Nathan couldn't take each other's eyes off each other. THey even said their vows.
Afterwards was a big reception. They had fingerfoods, cake, and gifts to open. Sarah opened them all except the big one
lieing on the floor with no name tag.
"Who could have sent this one?" Sarah examined it carefully. "Don't know.LOng lost relative maybe?" asked Nathan. Sarah
nodded and proceeded in opening the strange gift with everyone watching and taking pictures. Sarah felt something move
inside the box. Was it a puppy? Sarah wondered as she finished opening the lid.
Before Sarah could blink it struck out at her. A poisonous rattle snake struck out of the box, and bit her. Sarah
screamed As she got bit, Sarah fell to the floor in pain.The Snake tried to slither and strike at more people.
Darcy and Sam spied on the happily married couple. Darcy grinned the whole time. Her revenge was perfect. It would be
bad if the young bride died of being bitten by that snake. She turned to see Sam staring at Sarah concerned for her life
and saw him look angry at her. "Sam?" she asked.
"What did you just do? You told me that you wouldn't harm either one of them," Sam railed as Darcy stroked his hair gently with her fingers.
"Surely you know that I wouldn't do that," Darcy said smugly.
"I don't know what to think, but that sarah could die because of that snake," Sam said as he stood and went back to her car. He was feeling like he had been used, but he couldn't figure out why. He felt Darcy's slender arms wrap around him.
"I promised, didn't I? I didn't send that snake to her," Darcy said, turning him to face her.
"Yeah right. You told me to put that package on the table and you didn't even tell me what was in it. That girl could die and you don't even care. Goodbye, Miss Gregg," Sam said stiffly as he started to walk off.
"You can't walk away from me," Darcy ordered.
"Watch me," Sam said, stalking away. A felt a sharp pain as something connected with his head. Darcy crouched next to him a gun in her hand.
"I'm sorry, Sam. but you are going to prison for me," Darcy said, placing her gun in Sam's hand.
"You won't get away with this," Sam said as Darcy cleaned a spot on his neck with a cotton ball.
"I think I will. You on the other hand, Baby, are going to jail. And your sister said she loved you so much," Darcy mocked, stroking his hair gently.
"Sister?" Sam asked.
"Yes. Sister. Sarah's your sister. You were in a car accident with her and I pulled you out and just left her there," Darcy said, pulling out a long syringe of clear liquid and inserted it into his neck. She leaned over and kissed his lips just as the blackness from the drug fell like a curtain in front of his eyes. He was out cold five seconds later as she stood and drove off.
Nathan sat next to his wife as the ambulance took her to the hospital. Someone had tried again to kill Sarah. If he gambled he would say Darcy, but Darcy had a boyfriend. Unless Darcy had somehow talked him into helping her kill Sarah. nathan prayed as hard as he could that Sarah would be okay. Snake bites were not easy to get over, but he prayed that God would hear his prayer and spare his wife.
When Sarah was brought in, The Doctor took her in immediately and began to get all of the poison out. He managed to
succeed in doing it. Then he applied medicine to her bite and put a bandaid over it. The Doctor told Nathan and the
Dukes she should be fine thanks to them for getting her to the hospital quickly. Had they not, Sarah could have died.
Sarah woke up at the hospital and was told everything that was told to Nathan and his parents. Sarah still felt weak
from the bite, but otherwise felt fine.
She couldn't believe how her reception had gone! A rattlesnake in one of the gifts! Who would do such a thing?! Then
it crossed her mind that Darcy could have done it except she was banned from having any contact with Sarah. BUt she
could have gotten someone to do her dirty work for her. Darcy had no problem using guys she dated to hurt Sarah.
Sam couldn't have done this, could he? Sarah shook her head. Then the thoughts came to her. Sam isn't alive! If he
was, he'd never intentionally hurt her, unless he was being forced to somehow.
The Doctor's wanted to keep Sarah overnight just in case she had any effects from the Snake bite. They was sure she
would be fine, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Darcy drove off without Sam dissapointed. She had wanted things to go well with them. But then Sam turned against her
when the thing happened with Sarah. She should have known that her and Sam wouldn't get married. Now they wouldn't now
that he knew she wanted his sister dead and that she had used him to try to kill Sarah. Darcy sighed and drove back to
her mansion alone. Why was it always so complicated to find the right guy to marry? Here she was at twenty- seven and
didn't have a man yet. Darcy hoped Sam never returned he was now fired.
Sarah noticed that Nathan slept near her bed and that his parents had gone to the cafeteria downstairs. She must have
dozed off again because now she woke up. Her thoughts drifted back to Sam and she remembered the happy times they
shared. Sam always looked out for her and made certain no one harmed his little sister. That was the loving Sam she
knew. Sarah felt tears come down her face. She wished she could see Sam again. She wished he was still alive.
Sarah kept crying softly not knowing anyone else was in the room.
Sam had woken up, feeling as if he had the worst headache known to man. He stood dizzily to his feet, fighting the nausea that went through his body. He tried to remember how he woke up in a stand of trees and felt like he had nearly overdosed on drugs.
The last few hours were blank. Then a few memories came back. Darcy crouching next to him and a painful jab in his neck. Then her lips kissing his as he totally blacked out. He then remembered what she told him about Sarah being his sister. He wondered if that was like all the other lies she had told him while kissing him and saying that she loved him.
Sam tottered back and forth, dropping the gun that Darcy had left with him. Even though he was going to be blamed for Sarah's murder he had to get to the hospital. His head throbbed with pain and was sticky with blood from where Darcy had hit him in the head. he also had to make sure that Sarah was all right. There was a slim chance that she survived.
Sam could also warn Nathan that Darcy might be coming for him to force him to marry her if she thought that Sarah was dead. he was willing to bet that Darcy had another gun. She would force Nathan at gunpoint if she had to.
Nathan had woken up to his wife crying in the bed next to his. Nathan got up, rubbing his eyes and ignoring the pain in his healing collarbone.
"Sarah?" Nathan asked, hobbling painfully over to his wife's bed and sitting down took her in his arms as he leaned back against the pillows. He rubbed her shoulders gently and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Nathan, did I wake you?" Sarah asked, playing with the top button of Nathan's shirt.
"It's okay. Are you all right?" Nathan asked, kissing his wife's forehead.
"I'm just trying to figure out what happened. I think it was Darcy," Sarah said, grabbing tight handfuls of his shirt.
"How do ya figure, Sweet Cakes?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know. We didn't see her, but she wants you, Nathan. She'll stop at nothing to have you. She'll even use other people to get to me," Sarah said, burying her lips into his neck.
"I'll ask my uncle and Will to check it out. Maybe we can post a guard to watch over the both of us," Nathan suggested.
"Nathan, I love you," Sarah said in a breathless sob.
"I love you too, Baby," Nathan said, lifting her face gently and kissing her lips. Sarah kissed him back. Nathan then settled her back into her pillows and watched her as she went to sleep. Nathan hobbled out of the room, hoping to find a pay phone and a cup of coffee. Not realizing that Sam was on his way.
That night Sarah fell into a restless sleep. She thought that while she slept, her and Nathan should move to California
once he was better. That way, she could become the singer she always wanted to be, Nathan could get him a job being her
bodyguard if he would take that opportunity. It would give them a good chance of being far away from Darcy. And they could
settle down and enjoy married life.
Feeling weak and tired from the Snake bite, Sarah drifted off to sleep not knowing her brother was coming to see her.
The next morning seemed better. Sarah woke from a peaceful sleep and to two people outside talking. It sounded like
Nathan and his family and one other voice she didn't recognise.
Sarah glared at the harsh sunlight filtering through the window. Why did nurses have to open the shades so early? Sarah
could never figure that one out. The nurse came in cleaned her wound, and put a fresh bandage on. Sarah was thankfull
she survived. The other nurse came in and brought her breakfast consisting of eggs, sausage and bacon and juice. Sarah
normally didn't like hospital food, but this morning she was thankful enough to be alive to eat food.
THe Doctors and Nurses were shocked by Sam's entrance the night before. He looked as if he had been drugged, and hit with
some sort of weapon. So they admitted him too. But he was released the next day.
Nathan the night before had requested a guard to be put on both watch of him and Sarah. His family wasn't taking any
chances of anything else happening to Sarah.
Sarah was just finishing eating breakfast when the door opened. IN walked the Sam look alike, Darcy's boyfriend. What
was he doing here? Sarah immediately dropped the fork. "May I help you?" Sarah asked. She examined Sam closely. She couldn't
get over how much he looked like her brother. Sarah watched as he sat on her bed, and took her hands in his looking
at her in the eyes the way her brother used to.
Nathan watched from the doorway of Sarah's hospital room. He was shocked at what Sam had just told him about Darcy planting the snake among their wedding gifts and hitting him on the head, drugging him, and leaving him to take the blame.
His story was even wilder when he said that Darcy had rescued him when he and Sarah were in that accident and had used him. Nathan knew that Sam was embarrassed that he fell for Darcy, but Nathan didn't blame him. He felt sorry for him. Sarah had said that Darcy's ammo was to pretend that she loved guys and then would dump them. For some reason her kisses made them lose all their common sense. Nathan was just the rare exception.
"So, are we putting a guard on Sam too?" Nathan asked Bo as he stood in the doorway with his family.
"I'm thinking. Darcy was willing to let him take the wrap for her. Also if she thinks Sarah's dead she'll come here for you. But if she finds out that she didn't succeed then she might get someone else to do her dirty work for her. She apparently has no problem getting men to do what she wants," Bo said.
"I was able to resist her charms. Why wasn't Sam?" Nathan wanted to know.
"Sam had amnesia. Amnesiac's are very vulnerable to suggestion, Son. That's what happened with your Uncle Bo when he had amnesia. Also when a pretty girl kisses like you said Darcy was kissing him and the way she kissed you that time then all common sense goes sometimes," Luke said, clapping his son's shoulders.
Nathan looked back in on his wife. She was clinging to Sam and tears streaked her face in thin rivulets and she wrapped her arms tightly around him and kissed his cheek over and over.
Sarah clinged to her brother crying tears of happiness and relief. Sam was alive! He had found his way back to her and
had admitted everything that Darcy had done to him even keeping Sarah from knowing her own brother was alive. Sam had missed
three years of her life all because of Darcy using him! Sarah was angry when she found out Darcy was the one who planted
the snake in one of her gifts and used Sam to deliver the package for her. Sarah wouldn't ever blame Sam for harming her.
He didn't try to harm her, Darcy did.
Nathan's family took it extremely well and didn't blame Sam either. In fact, they were glad that Sam told them everything
and for coming back for Sarah. Nathan's uncle Bo took statements from Sarah, Nathan, and Sam and wrote them down on his
legal pad. Bo promised that he would arrest Darcy again soon and with more charges and this time, she wouldn't get bail.
They had evidence this time against Darcy. The Dead Snake in which Bo had killed at the wedding and the box it came in.
Sarah just clung to her brother and cried. She was so glad to see him. All those three years of suffering without him
finally were lifted off her shoulders. "Sam, I'm so happy that your alive and you came to find me. I- we really thought
you were dead for three years! We had a funeral, everything!" she looked at him and cried while saying this.
Sam held his sister in his arms and stroked her hair gently. Being with her again had brought back memories that he had dreamed about at night. "I'm so sorry, Sarah. If I had known what Darcy was doing then I wouldn't have fallen for her. She just seemed so nice and she said she loved me," Sam said as Nathan and Bo came in.
"It's all right, Sam. You didn't know. You're not the first guy she's ever used," Bo said, clapping Sam's shoulder with his hand.
"I never thought she'd use a snake. I'm not going to jail, am I?" Sam asked.
"No. You had amnesia. It wasn't your fault. We need to bring Darcy out into the open though," Bo said wearily.
"How?" Nathan asked.
"He's right, Mr. Duke. Darcy rarely leaves that estate unless she has to. She was going to have a minister brought to her mansion to marry us," Sam said.
"Point taken. Sarah, how fast could she get a new boyfriend?" Bo wanted to know.
"Well, she could have one now. Some poor dope who can't help himself or in Sam's case she found him on the side of the road, hurt. Sam, when did she turn her charms on to you?" Sarah asked, changing the subject slightly.
"Pretty much immediately after the accident. I was eating breakfast in the servant's dining room. She came in and started kissing my neck and throat. After that day she never kissed me again until a few days ago. She asked me if I loved her and would kiss her. Then she proposed," Sam said, blushing.
"We think she may have been drugging you during that time. The doctor says they found traces of drugs in your bloodstream. They said that this drug prevents a person from using their common sense," Bo said.
"How is that possible?" Nathan asked.
"Through food and what he drank. She gave it to him in small doses. By the time she said she loved him and started kissing him he wouldn't have been able to resist her charms; however deadly," Bo said offhandedly.
"That would explain how other guys fell for her," Nathan said, nodding his head.
"What if she comes after my son, Bo?" Luke asked, joining into the conversation.
"We'll put a watch around him, Sarah, and Sam. Darcy would be crazy to come after him again. She knows that Nathan won't fall for her charms. She couldn't be that stupid. We just have to get a warrant for her arrest," Bo said, walking out of the room.
"Don't worry, Little Brother. We'll get her," Will said before walking out the door. Will had been in the room with Bo and had listened to the whole conversation. Nathan trusted his brother. He hoped and prayed they found Darcy before she found out about Sarah still being alive.
Meanwhile, back at her estate, Darcy sat on the sofa leafing through the latest people magazine and frowned about how
Sam had just taken off and left her. Maybe she didn't drug him enough she thought. "Sam, you shouldn't have left me,
now you, Nathan and your family are going to truly pay. No one double crosses Darcy!" Darcy screamed and knocked over
her mother's lamp in anger.
Another one of her servants named Billy noticed her upset in the livingroom. He had heard about what happened with Sam
and Sarah and Nathan. The three had done Darcy terrible. She deserved to be happy! Billy wondered if their was anything
he could do to help make Darcy happy. Then he thought of it, he could terrorize the Duke family! Billy returned to his work.
Sarah hugged Sam close as Bo, Nathan, Luke, and Will talked to her and Sam. Bo wanted enough statements for getting Darcy
arrested. So Sarah and Sam told him as much as they could remember. Sarah kept hugging Sam close, breathing in his cologne.
Her brother was okay. He was alive! The doctors came back and checked on them both and said that they could both be
released today if all went well.
Sarah was glad. She wanted to be home with her new husband Nathan, and to spend time with her brother Sam. They had so
much to catch up on. As she listened to the men talk, Sarah agreed that the three of them needed someone to guard them,
watch over them, and protect them 24/7 from Darcy. And who better to do that than Bo, Luke, or Will? Sarah trusted the
three men with her life ever since they saved her from that psychopath who had kidnapped her. If anyone could protect
them from Sarah. It was the three of them.
Sarah looked up at the three "Bo, Luke, Will, I know you have better things to do, its just I was wondering. Could you
be our bodyguards the three of you? If we have someone to protect us all the time, then Darcy can't have access to us.
And besides, your the only ones that I know really well and could trust our lives with. Please say you'll do it?"
Sarah asked timidly.
Nathan dressed quickly in his clothes for the day. Since his collarbone was all well and Sarah's snakebite was cured the doctors had no reason to keep them in the hospital any longer. It had been two months since the attack at the wedding and Bo was still trying to get charges pressed against Darcy.
That was also the last time Darcy tried to attack him or his wife. Nathan looked at Sarah sleeping in their bed, a smile touching her pretty lips. She had just found out she was pregnant so she was always happy. Also with Sam being back it gave her another reason for happiness.
There had been a few moments for concern with Sam when the withdrawal symptoms from the drug that Darcy had given him kicked in. Three years of him unknowingly taking drugs had nearly done him in. Now Sam was happy. He and Lisa had found out about each other and were dating.
Nathan leaned over and kissed his wife gently. She opened her eyes and massaged his face gently with her hand. "How are you feeling?" Nathan asked.
"Sore and I'm craving a pizza," Sarah admitted with a smile.
"I'll bring one home tonight," Nathan said, wrapping a strand of her hair around his finger.
"I love you, Nathan," Sarah said, kissing his lips gently.
"I love you too. Take care of the baby," Nathan said, touching her still-flat stomach.
"I will," Sarah said. Nathan gave her one more kiss and walked out of the room, grabbing his car keys, not realizing that Billy was watching the house.
Billy had come over to Nathan Duke's house after fixing Darcy's breakfast. Darcy had asked him to keep tabs on the Dukes and tell her what they did during the day. She had gotten upset when she found out about Sarah surviving. She had gotten even madder that Sarah was now expecting Nathan's baby.
Billy knew that Darcy planned to steal Nathan's child as soon as it was born so she could pose as it's mother. If Billy had thought she was being unreasonable he didn't think it now. The drugs that she had given him left him in a worse state than Sam. He just didn't know that she was giving him drugs. That when he wasn't looking she was slipping small doses in his food. Even snack food.
Billy rang up Darcy on the phone. "Hello?" Darcy's beautiful voice rang in his ear.
"Nathan Duke just left for work and I see his Uncle coming," Billy said.
"Okay. What's Sarah's brother been doing?" Darcy asked.
"I saw him last night. It looks as if he's dating one of Nathan Duke's sisters. The one called Lisa," Billy said, hoping that her next words were that they could get married this afternoon. Every day she said they might get married, but then she'd change her mind. That was the only thing about her that disappointed him. He wanted her for his wife. She kept saying how much she loved him while they kissed. He wondered why she was stalling on getting married.
Nathan was in front of the building as it burned. He and the men from his company worked all day to put it out. By the time Nathan was done with that fire he had smoke and grime all over his clothes, face, and hair and he was ready to go home.
When Sarah had woke up that afternoon, Uncle Bo had just then come in. He was on the couch with the tv on and reading
the newspaper. When he saw her he greeted her with "Good Afternoon, Sarah. I heard you were expecting. That's great!"
Sarah then blushed "Thanks Uncle Bo." Uncle Bo had wanted her to call him that ever since her and Nathan got married.
Bo no longer saw her as the girl Nathan dated but as his niece. And he enjoyed protecting her. They got to spend alot
of time together.
During the day, Sarah did house chores, and she fixed up the baby's nursery which was decorated purple. She had already
had the basic stuff. Diapers, formula, babyfood and babyclothes. Sarah was excited about when she found out she and Nathan
were going to be parents.
Sarah and Bo took turns watching tv and enjoyed watching game tv shows. They would even watch a
show together.
Sarah had no clue that they were being spied on. And she had no idea that after all this time, Darcy was keeping tabs
on them and even knew where they live. But she didn't need to worry bout that. Her, Nathan, and Sam were being protected.
Nothing could happen to them.
For lunch, Sarah fixed her and Bo some homemade sub sandwiches. Sarah style. She loaded her subs with meat and various
cheeses and special sauce. Also since she was pregnant, Sarah loved pickles. The whole ones, and even small ones.
Sarah also spent the day chrocheting a baby blanket she was making for the baby. She saw Layla doing it at one point and
wanted to learn it. Layla patiently taught her. The two even became friends and enjoyed one another's company. Sarah
also loved Nathan's mom. Her and Mrs Duke often sang together and were going to do a future duet together.
Sarah then heard Nathan's car pull up the driveway. Sarah went to the door to greet her husband. "Nathan!It's so good to
see you!" she jumped in his arms as he put the pizza down.
Nathan walked into the house, setting the warm pizza on the kitchen counter. Sarah jumped into his arms and started kissing him. "I missed you," Sarah said between kisses.
"I missed you too. Will you marry me?" Nathan asked, whispering in her ear.
"I already did, Nathan," Sarah said wryly.
"I'm glad of that. I got your pizza for you," Nathan said, kissing her neck before opening the pizza box. It had steam coming out of it and had the dark olives she loved so much.
"I love you," Sarah said, gazing at him with adoration.
"Because I brought you pizza?" Nathan asked, holding her firmly against his chest.
"Yep," Sarah said, grinning.
"And I thought it was because of my good looks," Nathan said, going over to the sink and splashing some water on his face and washing his hands.
Sarah laughed as she put the pizza box on the table. Nathan sat next to her and he fed her her pizza bite by bite, giving her kisses every few bites. That night they went to bed in each others arms; totally unaware that Darcy was planning anything or that they were being spied on during the day.
The next night Sarah drew a big crowd to the night club. She was very suprised at how many came to see her alter ego,
Hilary Duff. Sarah used a false name onstage to protect her real life privacy. Also, as a singer, she didn't feel right
using her real name anyway.
Sarah rocked the house as usual and the crowd went nuts. Everything was going smoothly until a small fire had somehow
broke into the Small nightclub.
Sarah was in the middle of "Someone is watching over me", when someone yelled "FIREEEEE! SOMEBODY HAS START A FIRE!"
This caused a major stampede towards the door, and the fire spreaded quickly. Sarah turned around. Her bandmembers had
fled, thinking Sarah was behind them. "Hey! Guys! Don't leave me here!"
Then Billy stepped out onto the stage. "You just had to survive that snake bite, did you? Darcy was right, you and Nathan
hurt her, so you both are going to really suffer".
Sarah turned to look at him "Who are you? Darcy's new boyfriend?"
Billy smiled "That is me. Me and Darcy are going to get married once you and Nathan are out of the picture. Mostly you
need to be out. That way you don't cause her no more trouble."
Sarah's eye frantically searched the building. She didn't see Luke anywhere that night, and he was a bodyguard on duty.
"No one can help you this time, Sarah", said Billy then he grabbed her and dragged her off to the dressing room
he then tied her to a pole, making sure she didn't get loose.
"Billy, don't do this! This is the work of Darcy! She's drugging you! Billy, I'm pregnant! You don't want to hurt
innocent people!" Sarah tried to get through to him
"I'm sorry Sarah, but you must die". Billy poured gasoline all in the room and lit a match.
"Billy, Don't!" Sarah screamed.
Billy didn't listen to her, he dropped the match, and the room engulfed in flames. Billy then left.
Sarah screamed for help then caughed. She couldn't break free of the bonds that held her.
The sirens blared in Nathan's ears as he dressed in his firefighting clothes. This was Nathan's first night back since he broke his collarbone at the night club three months back. "So, where is the fire, Chief?" Peter Allen asked as he put on a gas mask.
"At the night club," the chief asked, causing Nathan's heart to skip. Sarah was singing there tonight. Nathan hadn't been able to go because of work, but Luke had promised to watch out for her.
The drive was five minutes long, but it felt like five years. The doorway had flames all around it as Nathan burst into the building, looking for survivors. A teenage girl was whimpering on the ground and Peter got her outside.
Nathan went down the hall where a dressing room was locked. "Is anyone in there?" Nathan asked, over the roar of the flames.
A cough was his only answer. Picking up his axe he beat the door down. Flames were licking at the wood and curtains. and smoke was in the air. But Nathan could see well enough. "Sarah!" he yelled.
Sarah looked up at him, coughing hard. "Nathan!" She yelled through the coughing. Nathan cut the ropes that secured her to a beam. He picked her up in his arms and ran towards the entrance.
Sarah wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. They made it outside just as the club collapsed. Nathan just stood there, watching the club go before he realized his wife was crying and kissing his ear that wasn't covered in a gas mask.
Nathan pulled off his mask as he set Sarah on the ground. "Are you all right?" Nathan asked after she gave him a long kiss. He cupped her face gently with his gloved hands.
"I think so. I didn't think anyone would get me out," Sarah whimpered as she kissed his lips repeatedly.
"What happened?" Nathan asked, covering her lips with his fingers. It was his way to stop her from kissing him if he needed to talk to her.
"I don't know. I went in my dressing room. Darcy's new slave tied me up and threatened to kill you and me for hurting her. Nathan, my throat hurts," Sarah said, burying her face in Nathan's chest.
"Okay. We're going take you to the hospital. Make sure you and the baby are all right," Nathan said as a paramedic came over with a stretcher. They didn't realize that Billy was watching.
Sarah rode in the Ambulance which came a few minutes later after Nathan had rescued her. Sarah couldn't believe how fast
that the night club had collapsed. Had she been in there any longer, Sarah could have surely died. Sarah truly believed that
Nathan was sent to her to protect her.
He rode with her to the hospital holding her hand and touching her stomach with his other hand. Sarah knew that he was concerned
for her and the baby. Sarah was concerned for the baby to as well. She knew that Dukes were strong and fighters. She just
hoped her baby made it through all this okay.
Sarah sat back wondering when Sarah and her slaves were going to let them just live a normal life. She had been in trouble
ever since Nathan and his Family saved her. How he still put up with her and loved her, Sarah didn't know. He had to be
tired from rescueing her so much. What Sarah didn't know was that Nathan enjoyed saving her life. It made him feel import-
ant and she was the love of his life. He'd do anything for her.
As Sarah breathed into a mask they put on her when she entered the Ambulance, Sarah breathed better and caughed less.
They had to get out of Hazzard soon before Darcy tried to do something else. When they waited for the doctor, Sarah
looked at Nathan "Nathan, I think me, you and Sam need to move away from Hazzard soon. I can't have the baby here not
with Darcy still around. I'm afraid she will try to kidnap the baby from us, she's really that twisted." Sarah said. Sarah
also mentioned that Hazzard wasn't safe for them anymore.