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

“Uh…Sir?” She was unsure how one addressed a chief, but Chief Blue Hawk did not seem offended. He turned to her, a pipe in his hand. “How do you say your name again?”


“Shanafila,” Chief Blue Hawk said politely.


Violet put her hands in her lap and looked down to Nakishwana. She was already eating berries in a small bowl provided to her. “And what’s her name mean?”


“Nakishwana’s name?” Chief Blue Hawk pulled a small box of matches from his pocket and struck one against the side. He rested the flame against his tobacco, puffed twice, and blew a gentle stream into the sky. “Catfish.”


Violet paused. “Really?” Chief Blue Hawk nodded. “Huh…”


“A bit. I guess I figured a girl that important would have a name more…um…”


Chief Blue Hawk chuckled, and tapped a few loose ashes from his pipe. “I suppose much of our people do not meet your expectations.”


Chapter 86