Page 36 of Haunted Horror on Halloween

Apparently, it was Victoria, their youngest, who had finally gotten through to her mother about what she should wear that night.

Because she was dressed as a Barbie doll and she looked fantastic, blond hair up in a high ponytail, cute little pink shirt and wide bell-bottomed pants—and to make it complete, she carried a burlap bag with the same pink coloring in places and a sign that said “Barbie” just in case the concept might be missed.

“Barbie! Wow. Cool. But—”

“Ah, come on! You’re always my Ken!” she told him.

He laughed. “All right, so . . .”

Victoria stepped out from behind her mother.

And she was the perfect little princess.

“We need to get going! That one place even hands out quarters. But they run out sometimes!” she announced.

“Well, hey, we don’t want to miss the quarters!” Jackson said.

They headed out. The night was filled with laughter, with kids dressed in every fashion.

Goblins, ghosts, werewolves, vampires and more, along with the princesses, superheroes, cowboys, and those dressed in every known fashion through the ages. The lights at the mall were bright; the night was genuinely good.

And then they headed home. The kids had an exciting time emptying their bags. And then, exhausted, they hurried off to bed.

Jackson and Angela were alone at last.

“Barbie?” he murmured, taking her into his arms.

“Ken?” she teased in return.

“Did they actually ever get married?” he asked. “I mean, you know, we are legally wed!”

She didn’t answer him; she didn’t get a chance because his phone was ringing and he quickly realized that it was Adam Harrison calling.

He winced. They did what they did because—like Spiderman, he thought—it was simply a calling, and they wouldn’t have their lives any other way.

But right now . . .

Adam began to talk and he smiled slowly. Thanking Adam, he ended the call.

“What?” Angela asked, a little worried, more confused. Because he was smiling.

“He wanted me to know that all our rescued victims are well on the way to recovery!” he told her.

And she smiled as well, then glanced across the room.

“And the clock has struck twelve! Another All Hallow’s Eve or Samhain done, sliding into the history books!” she said.

He grinned and nodded. Pulled her close into his arms again.

Time . . .

“Happy Halloween is over!” he told her.

And he kissed her.

One thing they knew well. Time was precious.

And that night . . .

He intended to make their time together very precious indeed!

Well, exciting and intimate, too!

After all, they had conquered a phantom zombie, saved a few witches and goblins, and battled the creatures of the night. . .

So now they got to be Barbie and Ken!