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

“I see…” The man rubbed his mustache in thought. After a moment, he stood, turned back around, and finalized the mail on the back counter. Taking it as their cue, Violet and Linus turned to leave, when the man spoke up one last time. “Them gloves you’re wearin’…They’d do well enough to save your knuckles from a proper bruisin’ next time.” He glanced over his shoulders. “For the stubborn horses, o’course.”


Violet’s smile turned a shade more genuine, and she and Linus left the post office to return to the others. The walk back to their current saloon was a pleasant one. Even with the brisk air and smell of rain, Violet was in a chipper mood. The morning after her altercation, she was sure there would be at least some heat from the local authorities. But Violet was pleased to see that nothing had come of it—not even rumors. Before leaving that day, Violet got her answer.


Chapter 140