Die in Texas — E.L. Larkin

When Demary visits her childhood friend, Katy Valentine, in New Mexico she expects to enjoy an old time barbecue, hear all the local gossip and just generally have a great time despite the ninety degree temperatures. She certainly doesn't expect to find herself witnessing a three-man fight that turns out to be a murder in progress. And what makes it worse, she discovers one of the three is a law man. In a strange town and without any backup she decides to stay away from the investigation, keep her mouth shut, and head for the cooler environs of home without delay. Concern for Katy's safety, however, keeps her in New Mexico and she soon finds that if she wants to keep them both alive she is going to have to track down a man on a killing spree.