Sigmund Shaw: A Steampunk Adventure Read Online Free Page B

didn’t allow for more than that, as his conscience simply couldn’t bear it – it barely allowed what he already was doing. He eventually bought a horse and a carriage that gave him a way to earn enough income that he rarely had to add to it by illegal means.
     
    Once his mom passed and his sister married her first husband, Sigmund thought he would be done thieving for good. But then his niece was born. This birth was celebrated by the family, of course, but once her ailment was discovered, her father, Alexis’ husband changed. He became bitter and then mean. One night he left and never came back. Alexis was devastated and once again needed assistance. This assistance was provided by Sigmund and his resurrected thieving ways. A few months later, the husband was found dead by the docks. Evidently he was a in debt to the wrong people. There wasn’t much of an investigation and even less mourning.
     
    Her husband was one of those men that walked the line between being a good man and a bad man. Alexis was optimistic, maybe too much so, in seeing his good qualities. At first, early in their marriage, things were good. He showed signs of breaking free from the habits of his rough childhood. But the pull from the past, the gravity of badness was strong. When Sarah was born, he cursed the world and gave in to the gloom and darkness. Sigmund knew that Alexis’ husband had no one to blame but himself, for she had given him all the support and love one could wish for, but his selfishness was too strong. Despite the hurt to Alexis, Sigmund was glad he was gone as the pain of his loss would be less than the pain of his continued presence.
     
    Jamison changed everything. He loved Alexis deeply and took care of Sarah as if she was his own. Sigmund would be forever grateful to this man. But now, in their home on this beautiful evening, they had asked him to steal. Why would they need something stolen?
     
    “Why would you need something stolen?” Sigmund asked with true wonderment. If they had asked him to slap the Queen, he doubted that he would have been any more surprised.
     
    Clearly struggling with this request, Jamison looked at Alexis, who gave a small nod of encouragement, and said, “It’s for Sarah. There is a chance she could walk.”
     
    If Sigmund had been surprised before, he was dumbfounded now. It’s the greatest news that he could ever hope to hear, certainly the greatest motivation to do something illegal and overcome his conscience, but the news was impossible.
     
    “Impossible,” Sigmund said half to himself. He had talked to countless doctors and many had examined Sarah, some even trying differing cures, but nothing was ever helpful. Most doctors simply told him that the situation was hopeless, that they all should be resigned to the fact that Sarah would never walk. The science was too far behind her ailment.
     
    Shaking his head in disbelief Sigmund continued, “You must be mistaken. There is no cure for Sarah. Oh how I wish there was, but her condition is well beyond medicine.”
     
    Alexis spoke calmly, soothingly, “Sigmund, please. Hear Jamison’s explanation.”
     
    Sigmund started at his sister. She was clearly on the side of Jamison, which meant something – Alexis was no fool. Sigmund, carefully protecting himself from disappointment, resigned to the slightest possibility of this amazing revelation. He looked at Jamison and waited for him to explain.
     
    “Let’s sit down.” Jamison and Alexis took the couch while Sigmund sat in the wing chair opposite them. “Sigmund, like you, I have visited many doctors and have been given the same prognoses. I wouldn’t say that I’ve given up hope, but my optimism was near empty. Regarding this possible cure, I did not find it, it found me. You see, there is a man that started at my office recently, Jonathan Fitton. He is a kind man, helpful, a good worker. We became friends rather easily as we respected each other’s work ethic and