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

“You tired?” she asked. Her voice was hushed. Violet shook her head. Her own voice was temporarily silenced. Instead of speaking, she hung on Mei’s every word. She watched Mei’s movements; the gentle sway from one foot to another. The frantic blinking of her long lashes. The way her fingers twitched, as if missing her gun, and finally clenched to keep themselves from searching for it. Mei took a careful step forward. Violet’s heart skipped in her chest. Neither woman dared break their gaze from each other. With a gentle hand, Mei tucked a loose strand of hair behind Violet’s ear.


“You sure are wonderful, Violet.” Her voice was like honey. Her obsidian eyes sparkled as precious stones would. Violet drew closer to Mei, like a moth to flame, until there was barely an inch between them. Before Violet knew it, Mei’s hands settled on her hips. She could feel the texture of Mei’s calluses through the thin fabric of her dress.


Chapter 102