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. Do you take this woman to be your wedded wife until your dying day?”


Mei stifled a laugh. “Sorry,” said Violet. “Ask me again.”


Linus, grinning from ear to ear, began again. “Violet. Do you take this woman to be your wedded wife until your dying day?”


Violet looked to Mei. A small strand of hair had gotten loose from her bun, and now rested beneath one eye. Violet hoped to capture this moment for as long as there was breath in her body. “I do,” she said.


“Today, we see the marriage of Mei Wong and Violet Donovan. From strangers, to allies, to friends, and finally, to lovers and family. In our eyes, and in the eyes of our friends, it is my honor and my privilege to pronounce you married. You may kiss the bride.”


And Violet did. Wrapped up together, they shared their first kiss as wife and…well, wife. When they broke apart, Linus and Sitting Bear applauded, the latter of whom was silently weeping into his extra bundle of flowers.


Chapter 172