Conner Meets Dark Cloud

About the Book

After the Civil War, countless arrivals from around the world pushed into the West; some seeking treasure, but most were hoping for the chance for a new life in the New World. But a dark cloud hung over the area: the Indians who were already living here. The new United States government helped the new settlers by placing Indians on reservations, providing US troops to maintain order. One of these was Sgt. Conner, who had just guided four new settlers into a lovely mountain glade. Upon his return, he learned sadly that a band of young braves had attacked a wagon train killing all but two, a boy in his early teens, and his older sister who had been taken alive by the leader of the band, Dark Cloud. The next day, Conner and his troops recovered the bodies and belongings of the settlers. But to Conner’s dismay, there were tracks of the attackers heading toward the very mountain glade he had just visited. Dreading the outcome he led some troops back to that glade and found the four new settlers killed by the attacking Indians. While there, the site was visited by Chief Three Eagles who accepted his braves as responsible but added white men were involved. Conner returned to the fort to learn what he could from the two survivors. Would the Indians and white men be brought to justice? What would become of the two orphaned survivors?

About the Author

After 25 years service as an army physician, the writer retired to become a professor at the TTU School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, retiring after 25 years on faculty. While living in this western community, he was exposed to the strong feelings of the current residents about the Indian conflicts in the South Plains area such as the battle of Palo Duro Canyon led by Col. McKenzie ending with the Indians returning to the reservation. However, one particular story stood out: that of Cynthia Ann Parker, captured by the Indians, later becoming wife of Quanah Parker who became a major Comanche leader. His tribe had control of the Chisholm Trail. He later served as sheriff and tribal judge and in 1906 was part of Teddy Roosevelt’s inaugural parade. This history was well remembered by some of the local writing group which stimulated the writing of this book which includes depicting a white woman's outcome after being captured by the Indians.