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 gave the others no mind and continued onward. The cold water crashed up around her ankles, and soon her thighs. It was a steep drop off under the surface, and Violet could feel Maple struggling to stay upright. But after a moment or two, Maple settled, and began easily paddling her way forward. Violet grinned and turned back to them. “It’s fine!” she said. “It ain’t too deep!”


They exchanged glances, looking both surprised and even a little impressed. Linus was the first to join, and Ginger paddled behind Maple with ease. Sitting Bear and Rory were next, followed finally by Mei. By then, they were in the center of the river, and neck deep in water. Sitting Bear kept their food supply raised above his head while Rory sat on his shoulders and helped. Linus and Mei did the same with their guns, trying to keep them from water damage. Violet grinned to herself, proudly. She turned back to the others and called out: “Nearly there!”


Chapter 60