Free River Magic by Martha Hix Page A

the family business.
    Forty years the company bookkeeper, Phoebe would follow Fitz at her own pace. For now she read the newspaper and ate. It wouldn’t be any time, she figured between the front and second page, before Tessa would make an appearance to babble about Connor’s birthday.
    Sister had been waiting for yesterday since July of 1860, and Phoebe had heard a thousand scenarios of The Perfect Bride.
    By page three, Tessa, bouncing like a girl, right down to the sausage curls, entered the eating room. “Oh, mercy, Phoebe, I do wonder who Connor’s bride is. I hope she knows how to cook his favorite foods,” she summed up in Scenario of the Day.
    â€œEat your banana, Tessa.”
    â€œI can’t eat! I’m too excited. I just can’t wait until my Genie awakens. We’re going down to the wharf, to call on Burke. I’ve decided to travel up to Rock Island and find out exactly who will be the new member of the family.”
    Yes, Burke’s flagship, the Delta Star, was docked in Memphis, but the thought that he would be called on to grant favors galled Phoebe. “Burke is a businessman. His first concern is making money. Write Connor a letter, Sister. Don’t impose on Burke.”
    â€œImpose? How can you say such a thing? Burke knows his brother was to meet his future bride yesterday.”
    â€œYes, you’ve bent our second nephew’s ear about that magic-malarkey. And bent it, and bent it, and bent it. Burke puts no stock in magical wishes, although he does humor you to the point of the ridiculous.”
    â€œThat’s what nephews are for, Phoebe. Anyway, Burke is set to steam up to Illinois as soon as there’s no danger of ice. He has cargo to collect up there, for the war effort.”
    The war effort. Tessa, like Burke and Father and Connor, had sided with the North in the War Between the States. Phoebe, on the other hand, had Southern sympathies. And why not? She was a product of Memphis, a staunchly southern city now in the hands of Union forces.
    The O’Briens, rich for two generations, had pots of money stashed away, and had done even better by war, revealed by this simple room. It was the least grand in a more than comfortable home. As usual, silver serving dishes and Irish crystal rested on the shelves beneath the beveled bay windows, but the bunch of bananas lazing in sun rays showcased the difference between the O’Briens and many of their neighbors.
    How many Southerners were privileged with tropical fruit?
    Her sister pulled her out of mental meandering. “You will join us on the trip up to Rock Island, won’t you, Phoebe?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou don’t mean that.”
    Phoebe meant it. But had second thoughts. No telling what kind of mischief Tessa would create up there. Tessa, who didn’t know a debit from a credit, had idle hands, truly the devil’s workshop. “I suppose you’re taking Eugene along?”
    Aged blue eyes got dreamy. “That goes without saying.”
    Phoebe’s glare smoldered with rebuke, yet she went silent. Tessa had an awful crush on Eugene; and no matter that Burke, not to mention Phoebe herself, despised the sponge, Tessa wouldn’t be swayed from him. Nor would she be swayed from her faith in the powers of a silly lamp that sat in Fitz & Son, Factors’ reinforced safe.
    Phoebe folded the newspaper, pushed her plate of breakfast aside, and crossed her arms over her flat chest, silent no more. “You know, I’m liking the idea of a trip to Illinois. It will prove what a ninny you’ve been since Marseilles. You’ll see that Connor hasn’t met a future bride.”
    â€œOh, don’t be such a skeptic.” Tessa fluttered her fingers. “You’ll see. Just you wait and see. Right now, our Connor has met his future wife. And she’s the most wonderful young lady on the face of the earth.”
    Looking down her sharp nose,