A year passed. One day her relatives decided to find out how the girl they had so easily gotten rid of was living. In the village there were rumors that the hermit from the mountains had begun earning good money from timber, and this stirred their curiosity.

When the wagon stopped at the cabin, Uncle Curtis flung the door open without knocking — and froze.

Inside everything looked different. The house was warm and tidy, fresh bread lay on the table, and a fire burned in the fireplace.

And by the window stood Elsie.

She still limped slightly, but she stood straight and calm. In her eyes there was no longer fear or shame — only quiet confidence.

— Elsie… — Curtis said confusedly. — We decided to see how you live here. After all, we are family.

At that moment Jonas appeared beside her. He silently stood next to the girl, and one calm glance from him was enough to make the room fall silent.

Elsie looked at her relatives for a long time and carefully.

— A family does not sell a person for a few coins, — she said quietly.

No one found anything to answer.

A minute later they awkwardly left the house.

When the door closed, Elsie took a deep breath and looked at the mountains beyond the window.

Once they had sent her here thinking they were getting rid of a burden.

But it was here that she met for the first time a person who saw in her not a weakness… but a true value.