The Switchback Trail — Terrell L. Bowers

Cullen Durant viewed the position of handyman at the Melbourne ranch as a break from his old job, a chance to taste some of the easy life. The only major problem was dealing with the two women on the ranch, until bizarre things started to happen. A rancher is gunned down in cold blood and Cully finds himself the target of an ambush, but has no idea as to the motive. Added to the mix are a suspicious fever, which kills off a thousand head of cattle and some unexpected repercussions from an upcoming arranged marriage. Before he can figure out the complex puzzle, there is a kidnapping for ransom. The only way for Cully to save the victim and untangle the string of mysteries is to walk into a trap where he'll most certainly be killed . . . not exactly the easy life he had imagined!