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

“Heya!” Violet thrust her heels into Maple’s ribs, and the pair of them soared off into the night. She chanced a look behind her to see men clambering to their own horses. A few took off in Violet’s direction, shooting manically. Violet wove Maple back and forth along the dry desert, desperately trying to shake them and avoid bullets. Violet tried returning fire, but it was difficult to hit moving targets in the dark. Fortunately, the same was true for them. Eventually, Violet’s six shooter ran out of ammo, and Violet threw everything she could into riding.


Maple ran as fast and as far as her legs could carry them. Hoping to lose the men, Violet rode down into a deep canyon. The ride was treacherous, the terrain uneven and rocky. Violet had to slow Maple to keep her from twisting an ankle. From the echo of the canyon, she heard her pursuers struggle, but move forward. Violet only hoped that the canyon would lead to a split path, and she could shake them for good.


Chapter 118