Witch Is The New Black (Paris, Texas Romance #3)

Baba cackled her familiar laugh. “You have to keep the book because you’re the most powerful blood witch, but I promise you, it won’t be without guidance from me personally.”


“You know, we should talk about backup plans. Is it me, or is it crazy to leave this book of everything, as Eddie called it, just one person’s responsibility? It’s been lost for almost thirty years.”

Baba patted her hand with reassurance. “We’ll put a plan of action in place.”

Her chest tightened, but she had to know. “And Doris?”

“I’ll wipe her memory clean. She’ll be back in Boston without a clue in no time flat.”

Then the question she dreaded most. “Eddie?”

“I promise you, Bernie, Eddie will pay dearly for what he’s done. I’ll see to it.”

What he’d done. She scanned the area surrounding the farm—blown to smithereens. The barn’s roof was missing and one wall was blown out, small mountains of dirt were littered with rubble, and the chicken coop that housed Miss Prissy was a mangled mess.

“Speaking of what Eddie’s done, I think I’d better go see how I can help. I can’t believe we survived that.”

“Do you know how you survived the explosion, Bernie?”

Her brow furrowed. “Magic? But I don’t remember doing a damn thing.”

Baba smiled. “That’s because your magic is that powerful. You sensed distress and fixed it. You used the magic you learned with the people who’ve come to love you.”

“But Ridge’s father put a spell on the farm and no one can use any serious magic.”

“Then I guess that goes to show you just how powerful you are. Somehow, in all that mess with Eddie, you must have remembered a transportation spell. It’s what saved you and Ridge, and even Eddie and Doris. It’s an amazing feat, Bernice. You’ve learned well. I guess sending you here to shovel horseshit wasn’t such a bad thing after all?”

Bernie let her head fall back on her shoulders as she barked a laugh. This explained so much. The demise of Betty-Boop. Setting the barn on fire. All of it. “Baba knows best, eh?”

Baba slapped the table with the palm of her hand, a grin on her lips. “Damn right she does. Now whaddya say we go figure out how to raise a barn with that hunk who has googly eyes for you?”

Bernie giggled, rising from the bench and holding out her hand to Baba, her heart full, her throat tight. “I’m in. All in.”

They walked hand in hand toward the house, where Ridge and everyone sat on the now lopsided steps and in chairs, beers in hand, laughing and talking.

And as she made her way up the steps of Ridge’s porch, and he handed her his beer, tucking her under his arm and dropping a kiss on the top of her head, she knew she was home.

Right here in Paris, Texas.

Well, then. Yippee-kay-aye-a.





Chapter 16



Two months later…

“Shhhh!” Flora ordered. “They’re comin’!”

Ridge chuckled, holding on to Bernie’s hand. “I can hear you, Miss Flora, What the heck’s going on?”

Bernie giggled as she positioned him in front of the new barn doors. “Just you keep your impatient eyes closed, Cowboy.” Wrapping her arm around his waist, she pulled him close and took a moment to admire the work everyone had put into the barn while Flora gathered the guests.

From the very peak of the new roof, down to the new red siding and wide double doors, the barn looked fresh and new and utterly amazing. Baskets of mums in yellow and red hung from plant hooks they’d cemented into the ground, leading to the barn’s doors. Strand after strand of globe lights swayed in the warm breeze, slung up over every corner of the interior, giving it a dreamy, romantic glow.

Three tables, filled with casseroles and pies and Glenda-Jo’s infamous fried chicken, lined the back wall near the stables, and smaller round tables were decorated with doilies Flora had personally crocheted.

Single roses from Winnie’s garden rested on each doily, in slender vases. Bales of hay were turned into chairs with the help of gingham fabric, tied with bows Lola and her classmates had made.

Bernie smiled at the faces she’d come to love. They were all responsible for this unbelievable feat, done in only a week’s time since Ridge had gone to Dallas to sell his portion of his securities consulting firm.

“C’mon, Bernie. Fried chicken’s waitin’!” Clive crowed with impatience.

“Ready? On three,” Bernie instructed the crowd. “One, two, threeee!”

“Surprise!” everyone shouted with cheers and whistles.

Ridge popped his eyes open, looking around and shaking his head with a pleased grin. “How the hell did you do all this? I was only gone a week.”

Gus grinned from ear to ear, his crooked bowtie tucked under his chin. “My girl put it together and we did a good old-fashioned barn raisin’. Just like back in the day!”

Ridge clapped Gus on the shoulder and peered down at him. “Your girl? Did she become your girl while I was in Dallas finalizing everything? Have you been stepping out on me with Gus, Bernie Sutton?”