Ruth Hanson

America, 1887. In a country healing from the horrors of the Civil War, the American West has never been more treacherous. Evil men do as they please, and the often faulty and corrupt justice system does little to nothing to help their victims. Enter the Railwalkers. Bandits whose only goal is to punish those whom the law has allowed to walk free. Some think they're an 28 legend, meant to scare would-be criminals into submission. Some see them as no different than the murderers they kill, while to others, they are angels of mercy. To Violet Donovan, they are family. Growing up as the sole heiress to the sizable Donovan estate, Violet's place of privilege allowed her wild spirit to flourish. Despite the pressures of her sex -- find a husband, stay pretty, have children, be subservient, don't speak out of line -- Violet is passionate, loud, stubborn, and untamed. However, at the ripe, marriageable age of twenty, Violet faces the fact that she may have to give in to her mother's wishes and marry mean, ugly Eustace Carpenter, the only other family name in their little town with comparable worth. But Violet's life changes forever when she is saved from an attacker by a strange woman. A woman who, like Violet, doesn't exactly fit the mold. Unfortunately Violet gets mixed up in a murder charge and has to leave everything she knows for a life on the run from the law. Through divine intervention, she and the woman cross paths again, and Violet comes to know her and her comrades. They are Mei Wong, Linus Cooper, Sitting Bear, and Rory McNab. The infamous Railwalker gang.

The Railwalkers

“Yes.” Violet forced herself to look up, and stared at Mei directly. “We’ve met before, years ago. I was on a train heading from Georgia to the Arkansas territory. And right before my eyes, I saw three strangers board the train and kidnap a man. An Indian, a Negro, and a Chinaman. ‘Cept I noticed somethin’ ‘bout the Chinaman. He spoke that day, and even though I was a child myself, I realized that he weren’t no man at all. It was you. A woman.


“I know who you are,” she repeated. “You’re the Railwalkers.”


The table was so silent, Violet could hear the creaking wood beneath it settle. The rest of the saloon was a distant memory. Mei leaned further in, the single light above their table haloing her dark hair. Danger was laced through her smile. She spoke in a low voice. “I think you’re confused, child.” Mei’s words were deliberate and quiet. “We are simple fur traders, making our way through the new lands of this great country.”


Chapter 21