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

Mei glanced at Linus. There was a moment’s hesitation. If Violet had to guess, it was to assess the safety of their new surroundings. When Linus nodded, Mei turned back to the bartender and removed her sopping wet hat.


“Just a few travelers in need of supplies, ma’am,” she said politely. “Mind if we stop in?”


The bartender snorted. “Shit, I ain’t had nobody outside ten miles in five years. Come on in, dry your feet.” She went to a stone hearth and fixed a tiny fire in the pile of ashes. Then, she pulled a few chairs around the fireplace, offering them a place to sit. It wasn’t much, but after El Paso, the gesture was next to godly.


The Railwalkers thanked the bartender in turn and went to take their seats. They hung up their wet coats and took off their soaking boots. The bartender poured them some whiskey, and they relaxed, warming their toes by the fire.


“The name’s Sherri,” the bartender introduced. “Where are y’all headed?”


Chapter 123