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

Mei walked around and knelt in front of her. Tilting her chin up, she observed what Violet assumed was a fresh bruise. “The second rule,” she said quietly, “is knowing how to take a hit.” Mei’s thumb raised and gently pushed away a tear. “If you don’t know the pain you’re causing, you can’t control it. And you shouldn’t be causing it.” She turned. “Linus. Bring me some of that fire water, wouldjya?”


Linus approached with the bottle of whiskey in one hand and an empty cup in the other. He screwed up his face in disapproval. “Little harsh for a first lesson, ain’t it, Mei?”


“If she wants to fight, she’ll learn it properly. Which leads us to the third rule.” Mei poured a glass of whiskey and handed it to Violet. “Nothing fixes up a sore jaw like a little who-hit-John.”


Violet stared at the offered drink, and Linus sighed. “Mei, go easier on her. She’s not used to—”


Chapter 56