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

“It ain’t cause I don’t want you. I hope you know that.” Mei’s words snapped Violet out of her thoughts. She blinked and stared at Mei through the tips of the flame. Mei sat with her Winchester flat in her lap, elbows on her knees. She didn’t seem the least bit tired. “Why I objected to you comin’ with. You’re a nice girl. Nice enough, anyway. It’s just that this life…” Mei blew through her lips, scratching the back of her head. “This life’s got its fair share of horrors. Nice girls shouldn’t never be a part of it.”


Violet pulled her knees to her chest. “‘Fraid I ain’t got much of a choice in the matter.” They exchanged smiles.


Mei cracked her neck and leaned back on her hands, staring up at the stars. “There’s an old Chinese saying I used to hear growin’ up. ‘If you save a man’s life, you are responsible for it.’ Never quite knew what it meant. After all, if you save someone, what more do you owe them?”


Violet looked away, her heart tightening. “Nothin’, I reckon…”


Chapter 53