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

Currently, Sitting Bear had taken off Ginger’s saddle blanket and began to wrap Linus’ body within. Before he got to the head, Mei knelt down beside her fallen brother. Sitting Bear dropped his hands, letting her take the time she needed. Mei’s eyes said what her lips could not. After a moment of silence, Mei leaned forward and laid a kiss on Linus’ cold forehead. It lingered for a moment, and she pulled back. She nodded, and Sitting Bear folded the last piece of cloth over Linus’ face. Together, the three of them gently lowered Linus’ body down into his grave. Violet took her shovel from the ground and began to shovel in the loose dirt. It was a slow process. No one stirred from where they stood. Only when the hole was halfway done did Rory take a clump of dirt in his hands and toss it in himself. Sitting Bear did the same. As did Mei. Finally, Violet set her spade aside and gently pushed the rest of the mound inside.


Chapter 182