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 was far smaller than the hotel lobby, the open windows letting in gentle gusts of warm, spring air. A round counter sat in front of a set of stairs, and a stack of parcels and letters, ready to ship. The floor was empty.


Linus approached the counter. Much like the hotel, there was a silver bell to be used for service. Linus tapped it, and thering echoing through the empty room. Violet heard a shuffling up the stairs, followed by a voice: “Be right there!” A man, perhaps ten years Violet’s senior, walked down the steps. He spotted Violet first and smiled. Though he had brown hair and not nearly his physique, Violet was immediately reminded of Eustace Carpenter. “Well, good afternoon, miss,” he greeted. “And how can I help you to—” His eyes traveled to Linus, and the light immediately extinguished within them. As his expression curled in distaste, Violet suddenly knew why she had had the association. “—today?”


Chapter 70