Dang Near Dead — Nancy G. West

HOME ON THE RANGE CAN BE MURDER

 Aggie Mundeen, friend Meredith, and Detective Sam (incognito) vacation at a Texas dude ranch where Aggie will research how to stay young and fresh in summer for her column readers. What could go wrong?

Cowhands hide secrets, the ranch manager envies her assistant, and former ranch owners died suspiciously. When an expert rider is thrown from a horse and lies hospitalized in a coma, Aggie is convinced somebody caused the fall. Despite Sam's warnings, she probes deeper and concocts ingenious methods to expose the assailant. When she scatters a cabal of cowboys, more than one hombre in the bunch would like to see her permanently Home on the Range.
CHANTICLEEER AWARD MYSTERY FINALIST