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

Violet’s hand was a two of diamonds and a three of clubs. Fortunately, the other players had fairly weak hands themselves. Player one bust on his first hit, and player two stayed, but in an effort to not tempt his luck. Player three stayed as well, and Violet’s neighbor hit to a twelve, and played it safe. Violet, her eyes on those last two chips in the pot, said:


“Hit me.” The dealer gave her a five of hearts. Ten. She needed to go higher. “Hit.” The dealer turned over the next card. A jack of diamonds. A nice, round twenty. Violet would be wise to stay; it would most likely be an easy win. But the next card was too tempting. There could only be one answer, and if it was what she needed…


Chapter 127