Part 3 ~ The Treat

Standing in the corner of the H.O.P.E. Center's living room, Walker fed a chocolate kiss into Alex's awaiting mouth. Gratefully accepting it, she kissed him lightly. He reached into the nearby candy dish and pulled out another kiss and began unwrapping it. Quickly grabbing it, she popped it into his mouth and laughed. "Try it, my dear, you might like it."

"Well, I know something I like," he said with a smile as he pulled her closer. But, just as their lips touched, the doorbell rang and Alex quickly pulled away and looked with interest to Jimmy and Josie answering the door.

"Expecting someone?" Walker asked as they moved into the hallway.

"Brenda Williams is supposed to come with Sarah Jean," Alex said as she put her arms around Walker for a hug. "The little girl didn't want to miss trick-or-treating and Mrs. Williams didn't have the heart to disappoint her. Still, Mrs. Williams is nervous about Sarah Jean being out of the house so she agreed to take Sarah Jean here for the party." Walker nodded and gave her a squeeze. "Jasper Jones was out after having served fifteen years for child molestation. He preferred dark-haired little girls," she added with disgust.

"Brave Doe Heart," was all Walker said.

"Her death was an accident. Jones said he wanted her to stop screaming and choked her a little too hard. Doesn't change anything though," she sadly said. "Still," she added, "Brave Doe Heart did help you catch Jones and you did save Sarah Jean and countless others Jones might have gotten hold of if he hadn't been caught. And, this time, he'll be put away for good. No more little girls will be hurt."

Walker hugged her and was about to say something when the doorbell rang and again Alex turned to the door.

Jimmy and Josie answered the door and found the somber, chubby, dark-haired little girl standing before them. "Happy Halloween," Josie said.

Jimmy reached out to give the little girl some candy but she just stood there. "Are you okay?" he asked as he glanced outside to see if a supervising adult was waiting nearby.

The little girl's large brown eyes suddenly sparkled when she nodded. "Is Ranger Walker here?"

Josie nodded and answered, "I'll get him."

"Would you like to come inside?" Jimmy asked.

The girl shook her head and Jimmy asked, "Are you here alone, honey?"

She nodded and, again, her eyes sparkled when she stated, "I'm not scared."

"That's good. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a Texas Ranger. Why don't you come inside and we can talk some more," Jimmy suggested while trying to wonder why he suddenly had shivers running up his spine.

Then, Walker and Alex joined him at the door. Jimmy turned to Walker and, indicating the little girl, moved aside and said, "You have a visitor."

Walker, with Alex beside him, moved into the doorway and faced the little girl. Walker smiled.

"I'm not stuck anymore," the little girl said. "And I'm not scared."

Walker and Alex looked at each other and Alex's eyes shimmered with tears. They turned back to the little girl and Walker said, "I'm glad."

"That man isn't going to hurt anyone else. You helped us. Thank you," Alex added.

"Thank you," she said with a smile that warmed their hearts.

"You're welcome, Brave Doe Heart."

The little girl turned around and began to walk away when Jimmy pushed Walker and Alex out of the way saying, "Brave Doe Heart?"

But when Jimmy got to the doorway and Walker and Alex turned back to face the walkway, the little girl was no longer in sight.

"Where'd she go?" Jimmy demanded.

"Where she belongs," Walker answered, wrapping his arm around Alex's waist.

"Heaven," Alex stated as she lay her hand on Walker's.

"No," Jimmy said, "That's not possible. You aren't going to tell me that I just had a conversation with a ghost."

"Okay," Walker said with a grin, "I won't tell you."

"It's not possible," Jimmy declared again.

Walker shrugged and turned to go inside when Alex called out Jimmy, "What was that you told me about this being your year?"

"It's not fair," Jimmy grumbled as Josie led him by the hand back into the hallway.

"What's your year?" Walker asked.

"I'll tell you later," Alex said with a laugh.

"Next year, I'm canceling Halloween," Jimmy grumbled.

And the front door closed as the foursome went into the living room to join the party.

The End