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

Still wide awake, she observed the room. Their little bungalow had grown so comfortable for both of them. By this time tomorrow, they’d have no roof over their head, and no hay bed to share. It would be back on the trail, alone against the elements.


While deep in thought, Violet ran her fingers through her hair. However, she couldn’t exactly get far. Violet had accumulated more knots and tangles in the hot weather than she ever had before. Frowning, she caught sight of her reflection in the dingy mirror across the room. Her hair was unsightly; as ragged as a bird’s nest. Violet grabbed Mei’s ivory brush and tried to comb out the knots, but it was fruitless. Not wanting to bother Mei, Violet slipped from bed and sat on the stool next to the rickety wardrobe, atop which sat the cracked and dirty mirror.


Chapter 107