KIOWA KELLY & LAKOTA JONES
by Michael Marzicola
Excerpt

The year 1830: President Andrew Jackson, having signed the Indian Removal Act; relocating some 60,000 Native American Indians east of the Mississippi River, anywhere west of the Mississippi, revokes another treaty, placing thousands in jeopardy.

The Kellys, hard working homesteaders of Irish descent, are singled out without provocation as Indian sympathizers, and forced to leave all as they join the wagon train heading westward. Ma Kelly, on the verge of delivery, along with the entire Kelly family is the victim of tragedy, but not before her newborn is delivered by a Kiowa maiden. The Kiowa woman is cleansing the child where the river waters gurgle over the rocks, when a Blackfoot war party attacks the Kellys in their covered wagon, killing and taking all: including their scalps. The Kiowa woman, Kicking Bird, is the daughter of the Kiowa Chief, Island Man! Twenty years later: Raised by his foster mother, Kicking Bird, Kiowa Kelly is a giant of a man.

Fifteen years later, Kiowa Kelly is the foster father of Lakota Jones. They become inseparable: both born under similar circumstances and raised among the Red Man, they roam the Western Plains in the tradition of their brothers: the Native American Indians of North America. Their travels take them to many villages of the hostiles, culminating in the mixing of blood: the ceremonial procedure to becoming a Blood brother! Between the years, 1822 and 1842, four great chiefs were born: Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph, and the incomparable Chief Crazy Horse!

Meanwhile, life went well on the plains. Buffalo numbered some sixty million and beaver were plentiful. However, as the tribes continued to war among themselves protecting territorial hunting grounds, they were, in fact, diminishing their ability to propagate their specie. In the meantime, the White Eyes having migrated from the continent across the big water in the East, began to overrun the eastern portion of America by leaps and bounds: their numbers vastly escalating!

The tribes east of the Mississippi, with open arms, accepted the foreign migrants. But, the foreign migrants werent looking for gratuities: their intent was divide and conquer! Beginning with the year 1778, some 370 treaties were drawn: honored at inception, then broken with DECEPTION! Then came the Coup De Grace in 1871, Congress declared that the United States would no longer consider Indian tribes as separate nations, refusing to sign any more treaties.

The infiltration by the White Eyes and the Blue Coat soldiers became monumental. Time and again, Kiowa Kelly and Lakota Jones intervened with questionable mind sets as to which they owed their allegiance? Then came the infamous battle between the 7th Cavalry of the great General, George Armstrong Custer, and the infamous Chiefs: Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Dull Knife, and a host of others, all led by the immortal Chief, Crazy Horse! The Red Man would no longer listen to the Forked Tongue of the White Eyes!

Kiowa Kelly and Lakota Jones viewed the upcoming battle from afar. The great General, George Armstrong Custer, his hair of gold resting upon his shoulders, while his fingers gripped the triggers of his pearl-handled six guns, awaiting the onslaught of some five thousand Oglala/Sioux, and Cheyenne braves. It was a tough decision. Kiowa Kelly and Lakota Jones were damned if they did and damned if they didnt: born of the White Eyes, but raised by the Red Man, they rode like the wind to join the infamous battle known as the Little Big Horn!