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

“My word…” she breathed. “You could last a whole winter in here an’ still have breakfast for spring.”


Mei and Linus, both carrying bundles of what they’d taken from the lawmen, laid their contraband on a slightly barer side of the table. Mei then slipped the strap of her rifle off her shoulder, rubbing the pinch away. Her gun rested idle in her left hand. Samuel sucked his front teeth and began to go through the loot. While he sorted through the Railwalkers’ take, Mei and Linus roamed through the goods for trade. Too drawn by curiosity, Violet joined in, and began to sift through all the eclectic items on the table.


“Whatchyu lookin’ fer?” Samuel’s voice was rough and sloppy. Violet could almost hear the whiskey in his words.


“Supplies,” said Mei. “Corn meal, salt, liquor. Maybe some fresh casings…”


“And sugar!” Rory, who was lingering by the food, pointed at a paper bag on a shelf far too high for him to reach. Mei nodded with a smile.


Chapter 34