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

“Did…did he do that?” Violet whispered.


Ruby and Mei glanced at one another, but it was Linus who answered her. He laid a hand on Violet’s shoulder, finally breaking her gaze. “Yes,” he answered solemnly. “He did.”


“You knew him?” the blonde asked. Her eyes were fierce. “He hurt you, too?”


Violet remembered Munts’ death. She remembered him grabbing for her. Ripping her dress, cursing her. She remembered how terrified she was, how helpless she felt. And then she remembered Mary…Violet’s head lowered and she shook it “no.” “Not me,” she said. “But…but a friend. He…He didn’t cut her up or nothin’ but he—”


“This is Violet,” Mei interjected. “She was from his town. Somehow or another, the damned lawman there got it in his head that she was the one who killed him. We figured she’d be safe here.”


“Of course,” Ruby agreed. She smiled at Violet with kindness. “Don’t you worry, honey. We’ll take right good care of you here.”


Chapter 46