Destiny's Magic Read Online Free Page A

those issues. Odd two, those O’Briens. Almost as strange as the motley entourage of the Best Ever Traveling Show.
    Pippin called her attention, saying, “Ole Snooky’ll smother in that crate. He ain’t got no food neither.”
    â€œNo pets, Pippin. And don’t say ain’t.”
    Making a last stab at wheedling, he bent a forefinger and thumb to indicate a fraction of an inch. “Please, please, please, can I just have one little peek?”
    Was that too much to ask?
    Susan contemplated the rope-bound crate. Those of the family Boidae were suitable enough companions, in proper hands. Yet she’d been against bringing Snooky along, even though the old cyclagras gigas couldn’t sink fangs into flesh, was harmless when he spat, and Pippin had proven deft at handling him.
    Moreover, the boy had never owned a pet, not even after circumstance caused him to join the circus. She’d given in, mostly in the interest of expediency. At any rate, if word got out that the “cat” had scales, no telling what the testy Captain O’Brien might do.
    Pippin sat up and crossed thin arms. “I’m worried about Snooky. If you’ll let him out for a minute or two, I promise he’ll be a good boy. Me too.”
    â€œAll right. But only for a few minutes.”
    A big grin boosted cheeks, eyes disappearing into a smile. Pippin scampered out of bed and had untied the rope in a matter of seconds. “Hiya, Snooky.”
    As if he’d heard—an impossibility, the serpent having no ears—Snooky elongated the ribs near his black-marked neck until they hooded open, defanged jaws. Susan tickled his scales. The reptile blinked benignly. He certainly passed for a cobra.
    â€œBetter we keep him our little secret. Unsuspecting people can be quite put off by the likes of our Snooky.”
    Pippin giggled, watching the serpent make a foray into new territory, slithering out of the crate, down the floor, and up a leg of the washstand.
    â€œHe’s funny, ain’t he?” Sitting Indian-style on the thick rug, Pippin rubbed his nose, enraptured as the tamed reptile slithered into the water pitcher, his serpentine curiosity slaked. “I’m gonna miss the traveling show in a way. It’s fun, watching folks squeal when they get a look at ole Snooky.”
    Susan chuckled. There had been a few good moments at the traveling show. “We’ve a lot more fun ahead of us. I promise.”
    â€œI sure hope so, Momma. I’m right tired of crying.”
    â€œThere you are, you laggard! Sleeping. Sleeping behind a paddle housing, when you were supposed to guard my quarters. Wake up! Wake up, and get to your watch, man. And if you ever disobey my orders again, Throck—I’ll personally keelhaul you!”
    Susan shivered—so did Pippin—as Burke O’Brien’s loud threat seeped through the walls. It even stirred the water pitcher, Snooky sensing danger and giving forth a fangless hiss.
    â€œWhat’s keelhaul, Momma?”
    â€œI haven’t the foggiest notion,” she lied.
    â€œDoes it have anything to do with blowing up a riverboat? Carmelita said one o’ Cap’n O’Brien’s old boats got blowed up.”
    Gossip had been rife about that calamity.
    That afternoon had been Susan’s last earful. The ensemble from the traveling show, eager as a line of paying customers, had lined the bluff to ogle the Yankee Princess as she put in at Natchez. Everyone oohed and aahed. What a sight, this regal lady, so brand-spanking new. The air had buzzed with talk about the O’Brien Steamship Company, male-dominated gossip trailing to mentions of the ill-fated Delta Star.
    The women had another topic in mind. They had collected to whisper and giggle about the Yankee Princess’s owner and captain. One woman, the bareback rider called Lucinda, even claimed Burke O’Brien once took her on the ride of her life.
    During the