Luke & Laura #5 Luke & Laura August - September, 1980  Beecher's Corners, Hutch, Laura says "I Love You"

     He brushes hay out of her hair and tells her he has always wanted to make love to a girl with hay in her hair. He tells her again how much he loves her, and this time she tells him she loves him! This is the first time she has admitted it to Luke. His eyes light up with love and tenderness. He tells her that he will wait as long as she needs. Laura thanks him for being patient. He assures her that he isn't patient but he loves her and will wait till she is ready. He understands that it isn't Scott that is between them but the cruel words he said about one man not being enough for her, about her being a tramp. She tells Luke that Scotty looked at her with such contempt as though she wasn't worth anything that she didn't even exist any longer. Luke asks if he hurt her? Laura says that Scotty threw her to the floor but didn't hurt her physically, but he talked about David Hamilton and said that one man isn't enough for her. Laura continues that she doesn't want to break her marriage vows, as she doesn't want Scotty to be right about her. Luke tells her that he is more committed to her than he will ever be to anyone in his life, he points out that it takes two people to break marriage vows. He accuses her of torturing him because he wouldn't make love to her that day on the sailboat. He tells her that she might be only 18 but when she kisses him she is a full-grown woman and is driving him crazy!
     The farm owner, Mr. Whitaker finds them there and offers them room and board for doing chores. He asks if they can milk cows? Luke says sure, but Laura laughs and says the closest her husband has every gotten to milk is off the shelf at the grocery store! Mr. Whitaker says he thought they were city folk. He overheard Laura say how hungry she was and tells them he can smell the bacon cooking and invites them up for breakfast. He is impressed with young people who are willing to work to pay their way.
     Luke and Laura join the Whitakers for breakfast. Luke introduces them as Lloyd and Lucy Johnson. They tell the Whitakers that they are newlyweds and Mrs. Whitaker offer them a room for $15 a week with a nice comfy bed. Luke jumps at the offer while Laura looks just a bit concerned at the idea of sharing a bed with Luke! Luke asks Mr. Whitaker about getting a job. He says he has some occasional chores but not enough to put them both to work.  In their new room, Laura wants to string a blanket across the room for privacy and tells Luke she saw it in a movie (Note: from "It Happened One Night" with Clarke Gable). Luke tells her he wants that they won't be playing at being married forever and he wants her to be Mrs. Spencer for real. He stops her from answering and tells her to think about it but doesn't want an answer from her yet.
     Hutch overheard that Luke and Laura are looking for a job and he heads to the diner to get work there ahead of them. Luke and Laura run into Hutch at the diner. He has already got a job, and encourages them to stick around for Mom and Pop Calhoun to return. He introduces himself as Jefferson Hutchison but he goes by "Hutch". Laura is very friendly and the nicer she is to Hutch, the grumpier that Luke becomes. When the Calhouns return, they tell them that the Whitakers recommended them and they are hired!
     Luke gets ticked when customers flirt with Laura and goes out and starts yelling at him. Hutch intervenes and explains to the customer that Luke is on his honeymoon. Luke wants to know how Hutch knew he is on his honeymoon, as he never said that. Hutch says it's obvious from the way they look at each other. Back at the Whitaker's, Laura insists on putting the blanket back up across their bedroom. Luke pouts as he watches her hang the blanket. He tells her what is he supposed to use as a blanket? He goes onto say that he plans on sleeping in the buff and if she has to get up to go to the little girl's room to makes sure to take a peek as he has nothing to hide. She gets him another sheet out of the cedar chest. He can see the shadow of her undressing through the blanket and tells her that she does this to drive him crazy; she pretends innocence but grins to herself. During the night, Luke pleads he is cold and gets up and grabs the blanket. Laura scoffs that it is a 100 degrees outside! Hutch checks in with Frank Smith and tells him that he will set up Luke and Laura's deaths so that there is no connection back to Frank Smith but he has to be careful as they are all in a small town so will take some time (he is stalling until he finds out where the Left Handed Boy treasure is).
     He comments that she hates waitressing. She says its just lonely being on the run. He points out that if she would let him sleep in the same bed that she wouldn't be quite so lonely! He tells her he knows she isn't ready and he wants it to be perfect for her. He keeps telling her he will wait but not too long. Laura complains about the name Lucy that it reminds of her the nasty little girl in Charlie Brown. Mrs. Whitaker comes to the door and Luke rushes to get the wig on Laura and pull down the rope strung across the room.
     Luke loses his temper when a couple of guys get suggestive with Laura. Hutch intervenes and drops a tray of dishes to break up the tension. The customers take offense and leave. Hutch warns Luke that he has to stop losing his temper with everyone who flirts with Lucy. He tells Luke about his wife, that she just disappeared, just left one day. He tells Luke that he hopes to find her one day. Hutch slips again and comments that he and his wife used to travel around on the bus just like Lloyd and Lucy (how would he know that?). Luke becomes very suspicious about the latest slip and asks him how he knew they traveled by bus? Hutch smoothly covers and says he was at the bus depot when Lloyd and Lucy arrived. He says he didn't remember Luke at all but Lucy's is a face that you don't forget.
     Luke is suspicious of Hutch, as he knows too much about Lloyd and Lucy, Laura warns him not to ask too many questions, as it will raise suspicions. Luke pumps Ma Calhoun for information on what she knows about Hutch. She doesn't know anything about Hutch's background and Luke tells Laura that isn't right that Hutch is too smart not to use his sob story about his missing wife to get the job. Luke asks her what she did with the dress she discarded at Wyndham's, and Luke admits that he threw away his wedding clothes and if the clothes were found that they could be connected to the night watchman's death. Laura is homesick, Luke tells her to go home, she refuses. She would have to face the police, and she doesn't believe she would be any safer besides she would be worried sick about Luke and can't leave him. She just desperately wants to call home; Luke says she can't as Leslie, Ruby, and Bobbie's phones are all bugged.
     Hutch catches Luke snooping in his jacket and plays hurt feelings and says he thought they were friends? He tells Luke that if he needs money that Hutch would be happy to loan it to him. Luke says that he just knocked that jacket on the floor and Hutch should check that he didn't take anything. They both wind up apologizing for each other, that they have both knocked around in life so much that they are both just naturally suspicious. Hutch offers to stay and lock up and they should go on home. Hutch locks the door and picks up the phone and starts calling Frank to report in. Luke returns with an excuse to pick up the paper. He questions Hutch about why the phone is off the hook. Hutch says that he was just hanging it up after someone had called.
     Back at the farm, Laura continues to defend Hutch. She really believes he is their friend and that he is a nice guy. Luke's instincts tell him that Hutch is watching them too closely. Frank Smith talks to Hutch again and wants him to kill Luke and Laura. Hutch stalls as he says it has to be just right and he doesn't want to be rushed. Mrs. Whitaker brings Luke and Laura breakfast in bed on their morning off, Luke takes the opportunity to jump in bed with Laura and snuggle. When Mrs. W leaves, Laura tells Luke if he does that again she will blow their cover! When Mrs. W accidentally picks up the black book when they are taking their clothes to be washed, they start imaging that she is the hit man. Later, Mrs. W picks up a rifle to clean it and point it in their direction, L&L hit the deck yelling! They realize they are overreacting as they scare her more than she has scared them. She tells them its not loaded and questions why they are so jumpy? Luke claims he was in Vietnam and had a bad experience that made him gun shy. Later, Luke tells her she did great at helping him field all of Mrs. W's questions about their past. Laura had slipped and mentioned Port Charles and told Luke she could cut out her tongue. He tells her not to worry about it, as they know that Mrs. W is not the hit man. Laura tells him that he is a hero that he pushed her aside when he thought she was in danger and got between her and the gun. He tells her that he would die for her, though he would rather not die!
     Joe and Leslie go to Scott's to look and see if she can identify anything missing from Laura's closet. She describes Laura's new blue dress that they recently purchased together. Joe shows her the dress they found in the garbage at Wyndham's and Leslie cries looking at it torn and dirty that yes this is Laura's dress. She is not at all comforted and even more afraid for what has happened to Laura. He promises Leslie that he believes Laura is okay and he will find her and bring her home safe and sound. Jennifer visits Scotty, she asks him if it every gets any easier? She tells him that she wakes up every morning feeling like she has been kicked in the stomach. She asks him about the rape and he tells her about Laura's letter. Jennifer realizes that when Luke asked her to marry him that he was still in love with Laura.
     Luke is not pleased to find Hutch in the Whitaker's barn, also looking for room and board. Luke is abrupt with him and Hutch wants to know if something is wrong, as Luke seems different. Luke insists everything is fine. Hutch tells him that he has been sleeping on the floor of the diner. Luke goes to talk to Laura and isn't happy that she told Hutch about the Whitakers having another room for rent. He tells her he doesn't trust Hutch and removed the black book from the barn. Laura is exhausted from her work at the diner. Luke insists that she relax while he does the chores and he fluffs up some hay for her to lay against.
Laura comments on how peaceful it is, then she thinks about all of the danger. Luke encourages her to let all of that go and just enjoy the peace of the moment. He lays very close to her, without touching her, yet tells her that he can still feel every sweet inch of her. When he begins kissing her passionately, she pulls away. He tells her not to pull away that she is his. She says she isn't, not in all of the right ways. He tells her they will make it right and kisses her again. She stops kissing him and sits up, she tells him she is thinking about the day they go back to Port Charles and she has to face Scotty. She worries what if Scotty is right and she is a tramp? This infuriates Luke and he demands that she stop saying that! He tells her she is the woman he loves.
     Frank gets a call from the organization insisting that he gets Joe Kelly off the investigation as he is causing problems for the organization. Hutch comes into the barn, interrupting Luke and Laura's intimate moment. After Hutch leaves, Luke expresses his annoyance with Hutch and his lousy timing. Luke is tired of Hutch showing up all of the time. Laura of course continues to defend Hutch that he can't possibly know anything about the black book. Luke tells her that every instinct he has is telling him that it is time to move on. He promises her that no harm will come to her. She knows he will protect her. He tells her he has no choice as his joy, his pain, his dreams, his survival all centers on her and he couldn't make it without her. Jennifer comes in to say goodbye to her father, she doesn't understand why he is sending her away? He says things may get unpleasant in the next few weeks due to a business problem.
     The next morning, Luke gently wakes up a sleeping Laura. He tells her that having a wife who is a brunette by day and a blonde by night is very provocative. Since he isn't supposed to touch Laura Baldwin, he asks her to put on her wig so he can say good morning to his wife, Lucy Johnson. Once the wig is in place, he kisses her. Hutch with his continually poor timing interrupts them again with a knock at the door. He tells them Mrs. Whitaker wants them down for breakfast. Luke says they will be done in a few minutes as Lucy just woke up. Luke says again that he hates Hutch's timing. Laura says they can't go around being suspicious of everyone just because they are on the run. Luke gets impatient as there is a hit man out after them and they could wind up dead. Luke says they can only trust each other. Laura says if he is a hit man that he isn't a very good one as he has missed many opportunities to kill them and the only thing he has killed is their good morning kiss.
     Over breakfast, Luke and Hutch try to question each other about their past and they both dodge each other's questions. Laura later asks Luke exactly what is it about Hutch that annoys him so much. He tells her that he doesn't like the way that Hutch looks at Laura and Hutch reminds Luke of himself, he says Hutch is too smooth. Laura points out how protective Hutch was with her when the truck drivers were coming on to her at the diner. Luke reminds her that he is the guy who is going to marry her, and draws her in for another kiss. Back upstairs, Laura finds Luke with Hutch's wallet. She is aghast that he has stolen it; Luke assures her that he will replace it before it is missed. Luke tells her that maybe he will grow to trust Hutch, but first he is going to check him out. He picks up the postcard and plans on calling the friend who sent it. Hutch has already called his friend and told him about the postcard and he expects Luke will call and check up on him.
     At the diner, when the newspapers are delivered Hutch sees pictures of Luke and Laura on the front page. He tries to hide the papers and they notice him acting weird. He tries to hide the pictures, Luke sees the pictures and tells Laura they have to leave town immediately. Hutch tells him to be cool that Luke can trust him. Luke is even more suspicious that Hutch hid the photos from them. Laura is sure he was actually hiding the papers from Pop Calhoun and just didn't have a chance to show them to Luke and Laura. Luke tells Laura that they have to leave town immediately and can't even go home to pack. Luke tells Pop that they have to leave, as Lucy isn't feeling well. Hutch saves the day sets fire to the stack of newspapers, and says he through his cigarette butt out and the wind must have caught it. This is the town's whole supply so now they don't have to leave town. Luke wants to know what Hutch is doing and what he wants? Hutch says that he was trying to help out a friend and he has been on the run before. Hutch tells him if he doesn't like it they can mix it up right here and now! Luke later tells Laura that they don't have to leave. Laura says she thinks Hutch is a good friend and he has proved his loyalty and they can use someone to trust. Luke still thinks he is one of Smith's men and is playing games. Hutch's story that he tells Luke checks out that his driver's license is legitimate. Luke tells her he is still going to call Hutch's friend. Laura doesn't understand why Luke doesn't trust him after what he did for them? He tells her because Laura's life is at stake! Luke calls the guy on the postcard and he gives Hutch a rave review, says he has known him for about a year that he worked for him. Luke believes the story and says he was wrong about Hutch. He thanks Hutch for what he did and shakes his hand. Laura also thanks him, Hutch grins with success and says "okay let's be buddies!".
     Luke wakes up in a good mood the next morning and Laura figures it is because of him not being able to trust Hutch. He admits that he feels really good to be able to trust Hutch and he feels a bit foolish for being so suspicious of him. Laura can't resist saying, "I told you so!".  Laura feels they have been able to drop out of sight and no one will be able to find them now. He kisses her sweetly and tells her that last night he ached for her. She says she can't, not yet. He says he just wants to touch her that is all he wants to do. As he holds her hand, he tells her that her wedding ring from Scotty has to come off. He tells her that the day it comes off will be the day she has broken her ties with Scott and that will be the day that they make love. Hutch is at the door again, that breakfast is ready. Hutch tells him that there were no more pictures of Luke and Laura in today's newspaper.
     At breakfast, they talk about next week being Labor Day and Laura looks sad. Luke explains that they always have a big party back and home and Lucy is just feeling homesick. The Whitakers ask Hutch about his future plans and he says it will depend on what Lloyd and Lucy do. Luke immediately reacts suspiciously and Hutch explains that it's been a long time since he has made such great friends. They all go into town and go shopping; Mrs. Whitaker tells Laura that they are going to have a big party for Labor Day with square dancing. Mrs. Whitaker offers to make Laura a new dress, and Laura excitedly tells Luke all about it. He is concerned that she is getting too attached to Beecher's Corners and she has to be ready to leave in a moment's notice. Luke shows her the sleeping bags he bought, and he is going to take them with him to work every day just in case (now isn't that odd behavior going to raise some suspicions?).
     Meanwhile back in Port Charles, Frank is annoyed that Luke and Laura's picture are in newspapers across the country. Frank realizes that if they are brought in by the police that Luke will turn over the black book to the authorities. Hutch calls to check in with Frank who demands to know why Hutch hasn't carried out the contract. He says that he hasn't been able to find the black book, as Luke doesn't carry it on him. Frank tells his associate that he will have to hire a second hit man if Hutch doesn't follow through soon.
     It's Labor Day, and they are all setting up for the party. Hutch breaks out the guitar so Luke and Laura can practice their square dancing before the party beings. Laura asks if Luke would like to leave on a farm out in the country? She says she thinks they could be very happy there. He says he thinks they could be very happy anywhere. They make out in the hay. Later, Laura shows off her new party dress to Hutch and Luke. They tell Hutch again how much they appreciate Hutch burning those newspapers, as they wouldn't still be in Beecher's Corners if it weren't for him. The guests begin arriving and the square dancing begins!
     Hutch sneaks away from the party to search their room and finds the black book. Laura comes up to the room to take a nap, Hutch hides under the bed. Luke comes up to make sure Laura is okay. She says she just got hot dancing in that wig. She loves Beecher's Corners and wants to stay there longer. Luke tells her they have to move onto Fair Oaks as soon as they have enough money. Luke leaves, Laura takes a nap, and Hutch puts the black book back. As he leaves the room, Luke comes upon him. Hutch pretends he was knocking to wake Laura up who is being asked for at the party. Luke is once again suspicious and asks Laura how sound asleep was she if someone could have been in the room with her? She is puzzled and not sure, he checks and is relieved to find the book still in its hiding place. He relaxes once again and tells her to reassure him that they are safe.
     While Hutch is playing the guitar, Luke notices that Hutch is left handed and once again gets that suspicious look on his face. After Hutch leaves to do chores, he suggests to Laura that he could be the Left Handed Boy or the hit man. Laura is annoyed with his constant suspicion of Hutch and tells him he is being ridiculous. He says he is going to call Hutch to see if he recognizes his voice on the phone, as he thinks he over heard the Left Handed Boy during a phone call while he was working for Frank. Laura says that Hutch has proven that he is their friend and has acted to protect them. Laura points out that if he is the Left Handed Boy wouldn't that make him too important to come looking for them. He says that since they have the black book they are important. He is worried about money as he is anxious to get to Fair Oaks but they need to have enough money to drop out of sight. He reminds her that Frank knows that if Luke and Laura are going to succeed in decoding the book that it will happen in Fair Oaks. He suggests again that she can still go back to Port Charles. She tells him not to start that again that he is stuck with her until they solve this thing, hit man and all.
     Luke wants to trust Hutch and he tells Laura that they need to trust someone. He goes to the diner and makes up a lame excuse to call Hutch and realizes that his isn't the voice he heard on the phone while he was working for Frank. In a cute moment, "Fascination" the music from Wyndham's plays and they toast each other with soda cans as Luke holds her and asks her what she is thinking of as they both have flashbacks to the romance of that night. He tells her that someday they are going to be the first two people in the history of the planet to live happily ever after. She tells him she will never forget the romance of that night.
     The local guys talk Hutch and Luke into playing Poker with them. Laura is against it and argues that they can't afford for him to lose any of their money that they have worked so hard to earn. Back at the farm, Luke points out that Hutch wants to go with them to Fair Oaks and he thinks Hutch is probably the best poker player in Beecher's Corners. Luke tells Laura that he needs to watch Hutch tonight and see how he plays poker. He also points out that he might win, and he has been accused of being a hen pecked husband!
     During the game, Laura is surprised when Hutch folds after having three kings. Luke looks at Hutch suspiciously as that was a winning hand. Hutch plays it off that Luke had him bluffed with those steely blue eyes, Luke is not buying that at all. Hutch continues to bluff and plays so that he ups the stakes, increases the pot, and then let Luke win the stakes.  After the game, Luke observes that Hutch suckered the Beecher's Corners guys into the game and then let Luke win, as he knew they were moving on and he insists they split the winnings. Luke asks Hutch to throw in with him but warns him that they will either wind up very rich heroes, or very dead. Laura is thrilled when Luke returns and shows her the pile of cash he won. He tells her they have enough that they can move onto Fair Oaks whenever they want. Luke tells her about Hutch letting him win, he tells her he know trusts Hutch and he will be going with them when they leave. She asks if he is going to tell Hutch about the black book and Frank Smith? He says not yet but soon after they get to Fair Oaks.
     Lt Stoddard goes to see Frank and tells him that Joe is getting too close to the truth about the night watchman's murder and that they have to take out a contract on Joe. Stoddard is obviously working with Frank and the leak in the department. Joe gets a call from an anonymous police officer who says he has information on who the leak within the police department is. This is a setup from Frank to have Joe killed. Joe is instructed to wear a long shore man's jacket and cap. Joe tells Stoddard about his meeting with the informant. Stoddard very convincingly warns Joe this could be a set up and to be careful. Patty has found out about Joe's meeting and he heads down the docks before Joe. Burt has found Laura's purse and takes it to Leslie, he tells her it was on a bus headed south.
     Burt Ramsey shows up at the diner, sits down to have breakfast and shows Hutch the picture in the newspaper with the pictures of Luke and Laura. Hutch spills coffee all over the newspaper but Burt has another picture of Laura. Just as he is about to talk to Pop Calhoun, the lights go out in the diner. Pop figures it is the storm outside that cut the power. Hutch helps them get out before Burt sees them. Luke and Laura head back to the farm and pack up to leave town, they are planning on leaving Hutch behind. Meanwhile, Frank has sent a new hit man to Beecher's Corners and he comes to the door and ask Mrs. W for a room, she tells him she will have one opening up soon as the young couple staying there are getting ready to leave. Luke and Laura tell Mrs. Whitaker how much they appreciate everything she has done for them, hugs and kisses all around. Luke goes out to the barn and does his chores one last time as the hit man waits and watches. Laura joins Luke, he is ready to hit the road but Laura wants to wait out the storm (she makes a good point about how hard it will be to catch a ride at night during a storm and they are bound to get soaked). Luke tells her that they have to be even more careful from here on out. He feels its time to get moving, and points out that if they can't catch a ride they can always sleep in another barn along the way.
     They make out in the haystack again, Laura tells Luke how much she loves him and wants to be with him. Luke hears something in the barn. He makes a pile out of their clothes to look like they are still lying there and they sneak off into a dark corner of the barn. The new hit man throws a knife hitting Laura's sweater in the pile. Hutch comes into the barn, talks to the cows about the storm, seems he senses something is up. He sees Laura crouched down and she tells him someone is in the barn and he is trying to kill them. Hutch draws out the killer, he comes on Hutch from behind and Hutch punches him out. He tells Luke and Laura to head out as no one is looking for Hutch. He will take care of the assassin and then catch up with Luke and Laura.
     Luke and Laura take refuge in a cabin and break out their sleeping bags. Laura's is wet and she is cold and she unzips Luke's bag and crawls in with him. He asks if this means what he hopes it does? She says no that she is cold. He is not happy that she is wriggly up next to him and using him for his body warmth. He tells her there will be none of that until she is ready to make love to him. Laura is worried about Hutch and if he got out of the barn okay, and she is worried about Burt Ramsey following them. Luke says he is most worried about the trail they left in the mud about a mile wide. Luke sets up a trap outside using the walls of Jericho rope and he warns Laura to avoid the area or she will be hanging upside down.
     Bobbie and Joe arrive at Frank Smith's under the pretense of returning wedding gifts. They are trying to find out where Jennifer is as they think the best way to get to Frank is through Jennifer. Joe keeps the butler busy, while Bobbie searches Frank's office for Jennifer's address. Bobbie gets caught searching Frank's desk and she says she is looking for tape to secure the cards so Jennifer will know who the presents came from. Frank comes in and is furious to find Bobbie there. He tells her she knows she isn't welcome in his house. She plays complete innocent and says that these gifts had been sent to Luke's and she didn't want them left at Luke's, she thought that Jennifer would be back by now and that she would want to return the gifts. Bobbie has found a letter from Jennifer; there is no return address by the letter mentions she is in Albany.
     Next, Leslie drops in on Frank and he walks in on her as she is searching his desk. She makes an excuse that she is admiring his desk. He couldn't be nicer to her (a dramatic difference between how he treated Bobbie) and Leslie tells him how much she misses Laura and he is one of the few people who understand as he is separated from his daughter and they are both the same age. Frank encourages her to confide in him as he is hoping that Laura will contact him and he will learn where she is.
     Luke returns from collecting firewood and rocks and finds Laura gone. He is desperate to find her, she returns from picking berries and he is so relieved to see her but not happy that she scared him. Later that night as they snuggle by the fire, she says she saw the look in his eyes when he thought something had happened to her. She tells him she doesn't want to play games and is considering taking off her wedding rings but that something is holding her back but that day isn't far away. She does remove her engagement ring, and Luke says that is a step in the right direction. He leans in to kiss her and they hear the snare snap as something or someone is caught in their trap. They go outside and find Hutch swinging in the breeze, Luke cracks up.
     Hutch reports that he tied up the hit man and left him in the field (he really killed him) and that he covered the tracks they left in the mud. Laura encourages Luke that its time to tell Hutch everything and he agrees. Laura removes her wig, and they tell them their real names, which he knows from reading the newspaper article. Luke tells him about Frank Smith, the organization, stealing the black book and that Laura helped him escape. He says that the book is in code but it mentions the Left Handed Boy and 150 miles. Luke tells him about the building in Fair Oaks that Frank was deeding him as a wedding gift and that Fair Oaks is 150 miles. Hutch wishes that they had told him sooner as he might have been more help. Luke tells him they want to rent a van and need Hutch to be the front man and do the renting.
     They arrive at the rental car agency and Laura is nervous when they see police there investigating a stolen van (not related to Luke and Laura). Hutch goes outside and overhears on the police radio that a body has been found in a shallow grave on the Whitaker's farm (not shown Burt Ramsey stays in Beecher's Corners to investigate). Laura tells Luke that every time she sees a cop that she has an urge to go to them for help and tell them the kind of trouble they are in. Luke points out how many people within the police that Frank had on his payroll and that they can't afford to trust anyone but Hutch. Hutch takes off in the van so that he can hide the gun. Luke isn't happy that Hutch made them walk to the meeting location should there be any trouble, as there wasn't any trouble. Hutch says that the rental car guy was very suspicious and with the cops around he felt it was better to be safe. Hutch cautions Luke to relax and not be in such a hurry. Luke shows him the CB, and Luke hooks it up. Luke says it will come in handy as they can listen in and learn about what is going on with the police. As soon as he hooks it up, Luke hears about a roadblock out of Beecher's Corners so they are able to avoid it and take the back roads towards Fair Oaks. They stop for the night, and as soon as they get out of the van they see a couple of motorcycle police headed their way. Hutch tells Luke and Laura to hide in the woods and he will talk to the cops. They check his license and he makes small talk and asks about a good place to eat in Fair Oaks.
     After the police leave, Luke makes his plan for tomorrow, they are going to split up and Hutch is going to return the van. Hutch asks if he has kept the black book safe? Luke says he never carries it on him and he mailed it to Fair Oaks. Luke and Laura get in their sleeping bags, and sleep outside. Luke tells her wants to make love to her and it would be so easy to crawl in he sleeping bag. But he acknowledges that it isn't right that he doesn't want them to cling together out of fear that when they finally come together it will only be out of love after all of this is over. Laura says that she is still a bit nervous about that as when she sleeps with him she will be committing to him and to a life with him. The next morning, Luke worries over why there would have been roadblocks around Beecher's Corners? Laura fears that the roadblocks were set up to look for them.
     In Fair Oaks, Luke and Laura stop at the coffee shop for breakfast. Hutch meets them there and as Luke tells them his plan for the day, Hutch encourages him to pick up the black book at the Post Office. Luke isn't worried about that, he wants a shower and a shave and says he needs business clothes so he can go to the county records office and look up the address on the Frank Smith property. Hutch comes back to the black book again and wants Luke to go pick it up as he is worried about it's safety, Luke tells him that Hutch is the only one who can pick it up that Luke couldn't very well have mailed it to himself and show up with a Luke Spencer ID so he mailed it to Hutch! Hutch grins to hear this news!
     Luke shows up at the country records office and gets the address of the building that Frank has deeded to him. After he leaves, the clerk calls someone and reports, "It worked!" (obviously on Frank Smith's payroll). Luke, Laura and Hutch walk into a restaurant to get a cup of coffee and meet Sally. She reports the restaurant isn't open yet and she is holding a Help Wanted sign, Luke tells her they are looking for work. She is willing to hire Lucy, but not Luke as she already has a cook and a bartender and only needs waitresses. The bartender guy gets real obnoxious and demands to take Sally's guitar home to practice, she refuses. He continues to be insistent and Hutch steps in ready to take the guy and his friend on. Luke steps up ready to back up Hutch against the two guys. One of the guys punches Luke and then trashes the bar, a full on fight breaks out and they save the day and throw the two guys out. Sally thanks them for saving the day. Luke wheedles jobs out of Sally, Hutch as a musician and Luke as a bartender.

**The End**

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