Woolfolk - The Winter Triangle: Book #1 (A Sweet & Steamy Series)

A Sweet & SteamySeries

Book One

The WinterTriangle

By

Nikki Woolfolk

Word Nerd Press

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 9781310510021

For Pops, my inspiration for Walter and whointroduced me to the night sky

For Mum, who inspired me to dream andsparked my love for steampunk

via the old tv series The Wild, Wild Westwhen I was a kid

For T.A.D. and Nerd, e.s.

Stubborn, West Virginia

February 13, 1880

Papa, I am not a human automaton that canproduce babies at will, Cassandra Halloway grumbled, grabbing aspatula to scrape the last of the batter into a cocoa dustedpan.

Just being selfish is what you are, Walterretorted.

Maybe, she replied straddling the wroughtiron stool next to her father at the kitchen counter.

I know you think I would be happier if Ihad what you and Momma had, but not all of us are so lucky.

Little girl, it has got nothing to do withluck, he said, rolling down his sleeve.

Cassandra studied her father, watching histhick, sandy-blond eyebrows creasing as he tried to get a cufflinkthrough the barrel cuff of his shirt. Here. Let me, she said,shooing his thick, fumbling fingers away.

"Meeting anyone can be acurse or kiss of luck," he continued, Its how both people chooseto nurture what they got that makes them happy, miserable, or" Theside of his mouth raised, and the creases around his eyes deepened,"or happily miserable for the rest of their lives. You know, how your Momma did me.Rest her soul.

Cassandra looked up to see his dark blueeyes sparkle with mischief. Papa you are incorrigible.

Now, you know I aint one to lie, he said,as he dipped a finger into the cake batter when he thought she wasnot looking.

Keep your hands out of there old man.

You can't tell yourfather what to do. I am testing the quality of the dessert. I think it needs morechocolate, he said, sampling more of the batter with two fingersthis time.

Cassandra pulled his batter-thieving handtowards her and secured the matching cufflink. Returning theconversation to her life choices would, at the very least, keep himfrom eating the remainder of the chocolate portion of the dessert.I dont want to try and change. Thats why I keep my own company.Momma used to say, If you cannot enjoy your own company, no oneelse will. she said, her hands forming patterns in the air.

"Dont take your Mommas wisdom and twistit.

Cassandra looked at the flickering flamefrom the red clay slip lamp her mother had brought from Africa- aremnant from her Belgian and Interior African heritage sitting inthe middle of the kitchen table. The intricate vine pattern alongthe top of the lamp and the carved tree in its center spoke of hermothers past, her identity that was as ingrained and long lastingas the lamp. Despite the advances in technology with electricityand gas, her mother had been determined to keep the ancestors' waysaround in order to keep her family grounded. In spite of her death,the lamp still glowed, providing the only light in the darkestcorner.

Maybe you should make sure theres enoughcoal for the cooker to burn. We dont want to have the disaster wehad last year because someone did not stoke the stove with the slowburning coal, she said changing the subject while smoothing outthe batter in the pan.

Girl" he playfully admonished beforedouble checking the stove. I think its time some lucky fellareceives all that attention instead of letting it all go towaste."

You just want to be a grandfather.

He chuckled, Well ofcourse. When you were born, I never thought that a quarter centurylater you would save me from my grief. Knowing that you werecounting on me after your mother passed away keeps me going. I justwant you to knowjoy.

"Is the oven ready?" she asked hoping tododge the imminent lecture.

Dont worry yourself. It will be ready formy Chocolate Mud Cherry Cheesecake Squares once you finish with thecream cheese. You know, that is one of the most long-windeddescriptions for a recipe I have ever heard. What tomfool came upwith that nonsense?

Cassandra looked over her shoulder. Youdid. Walter shrugged. Figures.

Cassandra cranked the standing mixer, andwatched it whirl to life. Papa, you ever think about going back toschool to study technology? I mean since you arent going to thepaper and saw mill anymore. The sale of the company didnt exactlyleave you destitute and you have plenty of funds to pay for all thelicenses required to allow you to use advanced technology.

Young lady, I am much toofond of my retirement to go back to the University for licenses.Walter paced the kitchen as he spoke. When I was a young man,before I met your mother, men just did as they pleased and createdall sorts of things. There weren't any masculine technology bans . A mandidn't have to spend money getting licenses.

Cassandra had heard this lament throughouther years living under her fathers roof.

During his childhood, the slave revolts ledby Gabriel Prosser and Nat Turner as well as the rebellion andattempted escape of the slaves held by the Cherokee Nation, caughtthe attention of many of the exploited and enslaved peoplethroughout the country, including the women fighting for suffrageand property rights. When the groups came together as a collectivefor universal equality, their numbers helped to divide and conquertheir oppressors by means both bloody and civil. Following theInsurrection of '56, the victors who now represented the formerlyoppressed were chosen to lead the new land and was called theCommittee. Technology, the Committee surmised, had been abused bywhite men for centuries. Their proof was in the multitude of warsthat left children fatherless and wives widowed. After theInsurrection, all women and many men from the formerly oppressed orenslaved groups were free to use technology and gain highereducation. However, by unanimous vote, the new nation banned allwhite males from working with or having access to any technologyunless they passed rigorous tests and paid heavy fees.

Yes, Papa, but look atthe world before the Committee stepped in...

Cassandra stopped the mixer, removed thebowl and put it on the counter. Absent-mindedly, Walter poured inthe juice from the maraschino cherries as she slowly stirred thecream cheese batter.

The Insurrection did give freedoms topeople like you and your mother, the slaves and the Natives, andeven men like me, but I dont think taking away all white mensrights to use technology was wise. What if theres a man out therewho could create something to help our society? A man that couldcure a disease? What happens to the poor man who's just asbrilliant as a lady engineer, but because he can't afford alicense, he'll never grace us with his creation? You ever thinkabout that?