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

Violet quickly slipped the coat on and buttoned it up (this time without complaint of where it came from) and ran the brush through her hair. It was harsh and rough, but Violet didn’t wince. Instead, she forced it through as quickly as possible, and then handed it back to Mei. Her eyes lingered on the strange creature on the handle until Mei packed it out of sight.


Finally, the five were saddled up and set out. With the thickness of the forest, they had to ride single file. Mei took up the lead, with Sitting Bear and Rory behind her. Violet followed, while Linus brought up the rear. From his horse’s saddle, the other horses were hitched up and followed dutifully. They rode at a steady, quiet pace. Above them, Violet watched the gray morning light turn brighter. The dour clouds never parted, however, and Violet could soon smell rain on the horizon.


Chapter 28