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 let her hand go, and took a step back. “If you can, always try and stop ‘em first before making a move yourself.”


Violet nodded, rolling her shoulder. She tried punching again. Mei knocked away her arm and landed a flat-fisted punch in the middle of Violet’s chest. Violet coughed and reared back, sweat pouring down her face and neck. Violet shook it off and settled back into her starting pose. Mei held out a hand, cautiously. “You all right there, girly?”


“Finer than cream gravy,” Violet gasped. She wiped her forehead with the back of her wrist and put her hands up once more. “C’mon, let’s have it.”


Mei smirked and sent a punch into Violet’s left side. As Violet reeled, Mei sent another one directly into her gut. Violet was short on breath, her bare feet slipping in the dewy mud. In a split second, Violet caught a glimpse of Mei pulling back for a final hit. Adrenaline pumping, Violet sent a wild fist flying to hit Mei before Mei hit her. This time, it finally landed.


Chapter 67