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 marshal from before,” she said. “He survived.” She nodded towards the door. “Still kickin’, after all that.”


“Must be one stubborn son of a bitch,” said Linus.


“And if he walks today, he’ll probably try again.”


The others nodded, and Mei took her shoulders. “This is your call, Violet. Whatever you choose, we stand behind you.”


Violet smiled briefly. She faced the door again. There was more evidence of movement within. She held Hearst’s gun in her palm. Flipping open the chamber, she looked inside. One bullet left. She snapped it closed. Gun in hand, she swung open the door. “Out. Both of ya.” The two men tumbled to the cold ground like molasses. Deputy Marsh barely had the balance to crawl and ended slumped to his side in a pile of muddy sleet. Hearst was a little more put together. Falling from the cab, he sat himself on his knees, and managed to keep himself upright. Silence passed.


Chapter 145