Free Marta's Legacy Collection by Francine Rivers

forgive you, Papa!” She flew upstairs. A moment later, she heard a door slam below. Mama sat on the bed Marta had shared with Elise. Her sister lay with her head in their mother’s lap. Mama stroked her like she would a pet dog. “You’re home now, my darling. Everything will be all right.”
    Marta came into the room and closed the door quietly behind her. “No, it won’t, Mama. It’ll never be right.”
    “Hush, Marta!”
    Hush? Marta took the coins from her pocket. “This money belongs to Elise.”
    Elise rose up, eyes wild. “I don’t want the money! I don’t want anything he touched.”
    Mama looked shocked and frightened. “Who is she talking about?”
    “Herr Meyer. And he wasn’t the only one.” When Marta told her what the cook had said, Mama’s face crumpled.
    “Oh, God . . .” Mama put her arms around Elise. “Oh, God, oh, God. I’m so sorry, Engel .” She rocked Elise, sobbing into her hair. “Throw the money away, Marta. It’s filthy lucre!”
    “It’s not mine to dispose of.” Marta left the coins on the bed. “Let Elise do it.” Maybe it would give her sister some small bit of satisfaction after what had been done to her. “At least, Papa won’t profit from his mistake.”
    Mama raised her head. “Do it for her. She’s too distressed.”
    “Oh, Mama!” Marta wept. “Papa is right about one thing. You’ve crippled her. She can’t even defend herself!”
    Mama looked stricken.
    Unable to bear more, Marta turned away.
    “Where are you going?” Mama spoke in a broken voice.
    “Back to Interlaken. I have responsibilities.”
    “There are no coaches until morning.”
    “There will be less trouble if I go. I seem to bring out the worst in Papa.” With her gone, he might think over what she had told him and regret the part he had played in this tragedy. “I’ll ask the Gilgans if I can stay for a night.”
    “Perhaps you’re right.” Mama stroked Elise’s head, buried in her lap. “I’m sorry, Marta.”
    “I’m sorry, too, Mama. More sorry than I can express.”
    Elise sat up. “Please don’t leave, Marta. Stay here with me.”
    “You have Mama to take care of you, Elise. You don’t need both of us.”
    Elise looked at Mama. “Tell her to stay!”
    Mama cupped Elise’s face. “You can’t ask for more than she’s done already, Elise. She brought you home, Engel . But she doesn’t belong here anymore. God has other plans for your sister.” Mama gathered Elise close and looked at Marta. “She has to go.”

    The Gilgans welcomed Marta and asked no questions. Perhaps they assumed she had fought with her father again. She couldn’t tell them what had happened to Elise, though rumors would spread soon enough. She told Rosie when they went to bed, knowing Elise would have terrible days ahead.
    “I can’t bear to stay. I can’t stand by and watch Papa sulk and grumble about his ruined plans or see Mama coddle her. But Elise will need a friend.” She wept.
    Rosie put an arm around her. “You needn’t say more. I’ll offer my friendship, Marta. I’ll invite Elise to tea. I’ll invite her for walks in the hills. If she wants to talk, I’ll listen and never repeat a word. I swear on my life.”
    “I’ll try not to be jealous.”
    Moonlight came in through the window, making Rosie’s face white and angelic. “I’m doing it for you.” Tears shone in her eyes. “I’ll do my best. You know I will. But Elise has to want a friend.”
    “I know. What I don’t know is what will happen to her now. It would’ve been better if Mama hadn’t protected her so much.” Marta rubbed tears away angrily. “If anyone tried to rape me, I’d scream and claw and kick!”
    “Maybe she did.”
    Marta doubted it. “I swear before God, Rosie, if I’m ever fortunate enough to have a daughter, I’ll make sure she’s strong enough to stand up for herself!”
    When Rosie fell asleep, Marta lay awake staring at the beamed ceiling. What would become of Elise? How