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 rolled away from the scene, staring instead at the dusty plains beyond their little campsite. The ache of Linus’s anger was still there, weighing heavy on her heart. That, coupled with the hopelessness of no alternative to taking life, and Violet didn’t feel the need to get out of bed that day.


Footsteps approached from behind. Violet kept her eyes closed, perhaps in an attempt to feign sleep. “Violet,” came Linus’s gentle voice. “Feel like helping me with breakfast?” Violet stayed still and silent. She heard Linus crouch down to her level. “I’d…really like the help. If you could spare it.” Violet contemplated staying silent a moment longer, but torn by Linus’s pleading tone, she turned slightly and opened her eyes. Linus was looking down at her, his gaze earnest and regretful. He offered her his hand. Violet took it.


Chapter 79