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

“The cellar. Take Rory. Keep him safe.” Gunfire hit the top of the bar, shattering glass bottles and showering them with liquor. Heart pounding, Violet nodded, and they kissed; quickly, harshly, desperately. Violet took Rory’s hand and, keeping low to the ground, led him to the cellar door and rushed him into the dark.


Violet led Rory down the stairs and spotted a few hearty pickle barrels in the corner. “Here, Rory!” She crouched him behind the barrels and knelt. “No matter what you hear, no matter what happens, you don’t come out unless one of us comes for you. Understood?”


Violet hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead. “It’ll be all right. Don’t be scared.”


More gunfire rocked the world above them. Making sure her revolver was loaded, Violet raced back into the fight and rolled back to Mei’s side.


“I told you to watch Rory!” she barked, shooting over the bar.


“He’s safe! I’m not leaving you!”


Chapter 128