Back to the Heart by Sky Corgan

out about this. Nine times out of ten, it doesn’t go to court. Basically, you’ll call Elias and give him all the details of what happened and a list of the places you applied to so that he can call to confirm that Rick gave you a bad reference. Those potential employers can also serve as witnesses. Then he’ll talk to you about what you want, your demands. He’ll investigate the case and send a demand letter to Rick. If Rick agrees to the demands, the case will be settled. If he doesn’t agree, then Elias will file a lawsuit. But I’m pretty sure Rick will agree, because it takes a lot less money and effort to settle outside of court than it does to go to court, and if your witnesses are solid, he won’t take it to court knowing that he’ll lose. No smart man would.”
    “Good Lord, you know a lot about the law.” Molly gawked at him.
    Ana was impressed as well, though she still felt uneasy. “I’ll give Elias a call,” she said weakly, if nothing else than to satiate Ryan’s desire to help her.
    “Good.” Ryan smiled at her.
    “You sure know a lot about a lot of stuff, Sunshine.” Molly’s mood had lightened up.
    “I like to know things.” He wrinkled his nose at her before taking a bite of the potatoes. “This is delicious, Molly, as always.”
    “Thanks. You really have been a godsend, you know that? A real godsend.”
    “Mom, stop,” Ana whined, embarrassed, even if what she had said was true. He was like an angel who had blown into both of their lives at just the right time. The thought of having to be without him when he went on his business trip was miserable.
    “Well, I’m just saying.” Molly shrugged. “He comes here just when Celia is about to get married, fixes a bunch of stuff around the house, picks up a lot of the chores, doesn’t ask for hardly anything in return, and now he’s offering to pay for your legal stuff. I wish there was something more we could do for you.” She looked over at Ryan.
    “You’ve done plenty by allowing me to stay here.” He gave her a grin.
    “You could let him move into the house.” Ana’s body went rigid even as she suggested it. While her mother might be snarky and a loudmouth, she was also very old-fashioned. When Ana and Celia were growing up, Molly had never allowed boys to stay the night or be alone with them in their bedrooms with the door closed. The only reason she hadn’t invited Ryan to stay inside the house yet had nothing to do with thinking that he would steal something and more to do with the thought that he’d end up in either Celia’s or Ana’s bed. Not that making him sleep out in the barn had kept him away from Ana, but it made Molly feel like she was doing her motherly duty to protect her daughters’ virtue.
    The room was silent for several moments before Ryan finally spoke. “That’s not necessary. I’m content staying in the barn.” And with that, the tension left the air in a sigh.
    “See. He’s fine in the barn,” Molly said for good measure.
    “But anyway, I should finish up here and get to work.” Ryan shoveled a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
    “What’s on your agenda today?” Ana glanced at him.
    “After I check on the cattle, probably just finish up the fence posts. What about you?”
    “I have egg duty.” Her eyes widened to show how not excited about it she was.
    “And garden duty.” Molly gestured at her with her fork again.
    “And garden duty,” she sighed.
    “And after that?” Ryan asked.
    “And after that, I have to catch up on my knitting.”
    “You knit?” He seemed surprised.
    “I do. It’s been a while though, so right now I’m just working on a scarf for the baby.”
    “A scarf. In Texas.” Ryan let out a short laugh.
    “It’s a good practice piece,” she insisted with a frown.
    “I’m sure it’s going to be a gorgeous scarf.” He tried to stifle his smirk, but it didn’t work too well.
    “I could show you, if you like.” Ana gestured toward the