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horse.”
    He’d paraphrased Running Bear’s words, but it would indeed take more than land to get him to the altar.
    Unless Rose was available. Maybe I’d consider it then.
    “That was my best lure!” Fiona exclaimed. “How do I come up with a better prize than a ranch, I ask you?” His tiny aunt looked ruffled and annoyed. “Running Bear has some nerve, changing horses midstream.” She sat down in a huff on the stool next to Galen’s.
    “No one really understands the workings of the chief’s mind, do they?” He took another bite of pie, giving a sigh of appreciation. “Your apple pie is the best, Aunt Fiona.”
    She made an impatient noise. “Don’t butter me up, nephew. You do realize the fly in your grandfather’s horse pucky ointment?”
    “There’s usually a lot of flies involved in what either of you do. I keep a flyswatter handy.”
    “Your siblings will resent you, dare I say even want to string you up, if you buy the ranch land and put them out of the raffle.” Fiona’s face wore a studious, concerned frown. “You’re a strong man, but not strong enough to be scorned and ostracized by the family you raised.”
    His aunt spoke the unvarnished truth. “What can I do?”
    “I don’t know. Your grandfather is leaving me holding the proverbial bag, too. What am I going to tell your siblings? I set all of you up for marriage and families, and now you get nada?” Fiona looked as if she might cry. “I think there’s some law against bait-and-switch tactics like the ones your grandfather is proposing. Where is he, anyway? I want to give him a piece of my mind. No more chocolate chip cookies for him!”
    Galen shrugged. “I guess I’ll head to the bank and start working up funding. First I’ll need to talk to Storm and make certain he understands I’m not going to pay a king’s ransom for land he just bought and never worked. Not to mention that the only livable dwelling just burned to the ground.”
    “Oh, that termite pile should have been razed a long time ago,” Fiona said, sounding crankier than he’d ever heard her. “The land itself is the only thing of value there.”
    Land with a maze of tunnels dug by dangerous smugglers running under it. “It’s not just me my sibs are going to be annoyed with. They love their families, but they’re going to think you planned this all along.”
    She gasped. “I did no such thing! Running Bear is off his rocker! I can’t be responsible for your grandfather’s deviations. I’m just the handler around here. And most of the time it’s like herding feral cats, I can tell you.” She went off, highly annoyed. Galen grinned and finished his pie.
    Rose came in and took Fiona’s chair. “Howdy, stranger.”
    He looked at her, his whole being suddenly filled with happiness for some stupid reason. Why this woman affected him this way he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Yes, she was cute, adorable, even. Had a sparky personality, and was brave as a tiger. Had sexy curves he’d love to get to know. But that wasn’t enough to get his engine revving in overdrive every time he saw her, was it?
    Who am I kidding? It’s more than enough. I’m about to break into a cold sweat just looking at her.
    “Fiona made apple pie. Want a slice?”
    She shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m going riding with Somer in a bit.”
    He hesitated. “Somer?”
    “Yes. Why?” Rose gave him a curious look. “Something wrong with that?”
    “No. Nothing at all. Just weren’t aware the two of you were on such friendly terms.”
    She smiled. “We’re the two new girls. Gives us a bond.”
    “Oh. I see.”
    “Yes. But then again, I’m on friendly terms with everyone.”
    He could believe that. Even he tended toward more-than-monosyllabic when Rose was around. “You girls just checking out the scenery?”
    “I did that last night with you.” She winked at him, and his stomach gave a little twist. Which was dumb, because women didn’t usually make him