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 sat in silence with Rory for a time, waiting for the others to return. It felt like an eternity, yet they were back before she knew it. The dead man was not with them. Violet didn’t feel the need to ask what was done with the body. Just as before, they returned with their marks’ effects. Perhaps to trade, or to use themselves. Again, Violet didn’t feel like asking. “Let’s keep on,” Mei said. “Lawmen will be out this way soon. Best if we ain’t.” The others wordlessly obeyed. Packed and mounted, they headed down the ridge and further west.


The silence was deafening. The four horses kept distance from one another, Linus in particular. He took up the rear, staying far away from the rest. Probably needs some time to cool off, Violet thought. Out of all of them, he seemed the angriest from their work. It didn’t take a genius to understand why.


Chapter 78