Chapter 1

Howie, Princess, and Warrior planned to spend the summer with the Kiowa before Howie started law school in Albuquerque. He had rented a three bedroom married student apartment at University of New Mexico starting in the fall. The university had a child care facility at the apartments, where the Warrior and Princess could stay when he was in class or the library.

The first night on the road, Howie and the kids stayed in a motel on the other side of Nashville. The second night they made it to Dolph's, but they were very late. Princess and Warrior stayed with Dawn while Howie went to the council building to see the council chief.

Howie told the Council Chief, "I will be going to law school at the University of New Mexico. They have a good tribal law program. I hope I can be of assistance after I graduate."

The Council Chief said, "Tall Grass, have you been to our western land in New Mexico?"

"No, I haven't seen much of them or the land," Howie answered.

"The Kiowa Apache were ten groups. One of the groups located on our western land near Mills, New Mexico. It's about one hundred miles west of here. Mills is about 225 east of Albuquerque. There are very few remaining of our people remaining on the land. I fear the government will take the land.

"Chief Tall Grass, you are to be Chief of the Western Kiowa and Medicine Man of All Kiowa. We did not share with our oil money with the Western group and they do not trust us.

"With you as their Chief and Medicine Man, neither group will be trouble for the other. The Western land is not developed and our people are few in number there. It will be a great challenge for you. I would send no other person. You have the Medicine and the money to be successful. The Western group has been separate and not a part of the council. Both Groups will accept you as Medicine Man. The Western Kiowa can be yours, by being Medicine Man, you are ours also."

"But what if the Western Kiowa reject me?" Howie asked.

"They will not," the Council Chief said.

The council supported Tall Grass' appointment and he accepted the charge.

Tall Grass stayed with Dolph and over the next week made significant progress on a plan for the Western land.

With his LDS advisor, he surveyed the Kiowa land from the air. The land was high desert at over four thousand feet elevation. Three-quarters of the western boundary of Kiowa land was about a mile west of the Canadian River. The land was about four hundred square miles. They didn't see fifty houses in the whole area.

Mills was an unincorporated village with a hand full of people. Mills had a filling station on State Road 39, that was halfway between Roy and Abbott. The Canadian River, which divided Harding from Mora Counties, was inside the Kiowa land. Mills Canyon, west of Mills, had a campground that drew a few campers, interested in the rugged beauty of the canyon.

Tall Grass went to see Fred McCall, the senior man at the Indian Bureau office. He told Mr. McCall of his appointment and asked for his help.

Mr. McCall gave him a letter of introduction to the agent there. "He has not been a very active agent. If you run into trouble, get in touch with me."

Tall Grass asked him about the land west of the Kiowa land. The LDS man suggested owning the land on both sides of the main highway between Denver and Santa Fe/ Albuquerque.

Mr. McCall said, "The Mormon's own the land. It is called Dessert Ranch. The last I heard they wanted twenty-five million for it."

Tall Grass picked the southwest corner of Kiowa land on the Canadian River, and just of State Road 120, to locate his primary house. He selected a site where the river ran west and where the back of the house had southern exposure and looked over the river gorge. He found several good well sites close to the house. He purchased land that extended Kiowa land along both sides the river, south to State Road 120. He also paid a million dollars for an option to the purchase of the land west of the border to the foothills of the mountains for twenty-four million.

Dolph suggested, "Why don't you go down to Maria's mountain village in Mexico. She always liked you. She might come up and keep Princess and Tiger or maybe more. If she doesn't want to, she might find someone who would. There were several people from her village who wanted to come up here. You might find workers or at least temporary workers. The Indian lands could be a sanctuary for those abandoned out in the desert."

Tall Grass said, "I hate to drive down there and find her gone."

Dolph said, "I don't know how to get in touch with her.

"We can keep the kids during the summer."

"I hadn't thought of Maria. She would be a good choice. And I could use some laborers," he said.

"Why do you want more land?" Dolph asked.

"The land has water and the highway. I would like to have a truck stop along the highway," Tall Grass said.

"It also had a train that runs through the middle of the new land. That train will complicate ranching," Dolph said.

"On the other hand, I could have a spur and be close to rail transportation," Tall Grass said.

Dolph helped Tall Grass plan his purchases. They purchased building supplies, a well drilling unit, and a paramedic unit. Dolph also looked for used truck stop equipment.

At the end of the week, Tall Grass took off for Santa Rita Viejo, the Mexican village, where Maria lived. Tall Grass found her, but she was in no shape to return with Tall Grass. She was married and had a child. Her second pregnancy was well along.

"Howie, you look good. I bet the girls are after you all the time," Maria said.

"Not pretty women like you," he said.

Tall Grass told her about what had happened since they had last seen each other.

"I am looking for someone to take care of me and my two children. My children are three and six years old. Next year, I will need some workers and farmers."

Maria said, "I can ask. Are you staying the night?"

"Yes. I have my truck setup for camping," he said.

Maria said, "I know three people, that I can recommend and who need to leave very badly. One is a widow with no place to live and no source of income. She has had to beg. Two are young girls who will be sold into prostitution if they don't find a way out of here soon. If I can find them and get them to you tonight, you should leave tonight. I'll try to reach them. The two young ones might be a problem. What would you like for me to do?"