The Heart Will Bring Us Home
PT.4
The ride from down town St. Louis to the Lemp House was a very scenic view. It was a beautiful afternoon; trees were changing color, deep reds, oranges and yellows. Turning down De Monil Place was a kaleidoscope of color, the likes of nothing Kitty ever remembered seeing in Kansas.
The home of the Lemp family was spectacular. William Lemp was a second generation German-American.
His father, John Adam Lemp, came to America to give his family a better chance at life and to have a piece of the American dream. His dream was to introduce his recipe for a lager beer. So, he decided to build a brewery plant in St. Louis not far from the family home; a legacy he could leave for his family.
As Kitty stepped down from the carriage, a rather tall man came out from the houseā¦to greet her. "Miss Russell, I presume?"
"Yes, I'm Kitty Russell."
"I'm Jasper Stone, Ma'am, Mr. Lemp's butler. Come right this way. He is expecting you. I will see to your things."
Kitty nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Stone. I appreciate that."
"Call, me Jasper, Ma'am." He said.
"Ok Jasper." Kitty answered, giving him a smile.
"Mr. Lemp is just in here." He told her as he led Kitty to the library. Jasper opened two large white doors and announced, "Excuse me, Sir. Miss Kitty Russell has arrived."
William Lemp, a very tall dark haired man with dark eyes and mustache, stood for a brief moment and took in the vision of the red hair that filled the entrance of the room.
Kitty felt the stare, so she spoke first. "Mr. Lemp. It's so nice to meet you in person, and it was so very generous of you to open your home to me as well."
"Oh, Miss Russell, it is such a pleasure to meet you as well. And we are happy to have you as a guest in our home. It's not often we get the chance to have such a lovely guest such as yourself. Let me introduce you to my family. My wife, Claudia."
"Mrs. Lemp, it's so nice to meet you."
"Oh, please call me Claudia."
"Ok, and please call me Kitty." Claudia looked at her strangely and Kitty smiled and said, "It's Kathleen, but my friends call me Kitty."
Then William turned and said, "And this young lady is our daughter, Hilda."
Just then, an elderly couple entered behind Kitty.
"Father, Mother, come. I want you to meet Miss Kitty Russell. Kitty, these are my parents, John & Hilda Lemp. They traveled to this fair country from Eachwege, Germany."
John took Kitty's hand and kissed it and said, "What a beautiful and handsome woman you are, my dear."
"Why, thank you, Mr. Lemp." Kitty answered as she smiled at them both. "It is such a pleasure to meet you."
Hilda Lemp noticed how well dressed Kitty was, even knowing that William had told them she was coming from a cow town in the west. So, she looked with a furrowed brow and asked, "Miss Russell, from where do you hail? My son tells us you came here from a town out west but you seem to be a very elegant lady."
William jumped in. "Mother!"
Kitty just smiled. "No, William, it's fine. Mrs. Lemp, I was born and raised in New Orleans. I lived there till I was about 16 or 17. Then I began to travel. But I settled in Kansas over twenty years ago. I have a business there, which is what brings me to do business with your husband and son."
"What kind of business, Dear?" Mrs. Lemp asked.
Looking around the room, then answering, "I own and run the Long Branch saloon."
With that, young Hilda offered her opinion. "See, Daddy? Women can run a business just as well as a man."
Kitty smirked, trying not to burst out laughing in light of the fact that William was doing business with her knowing what she did. Ironic!
Well, thinking quickly and wanting to table this topic, William suggested that maybe Kitty would want to freshen up before supper. Maybe even get a little rest after her long trip."
She agreed, letting him off the hook.
As she was going up to the guest room, young Hilda followed behind her and quickly said, "Miss Russell. I'm really glad you're here."
Kitty smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Hilda."
"I mean, Miss Russell, that maybe now my father will take it more seriously about me coming into the family business, the more he sees how well a woman has succeeded. I'm 18, almost 19, and being that I wasn't born a boy, they think all I have to do is get married and have babies. Then they think that maybe I'll have a boy heir to the family business. I've grown up around it every day. I know more then they think I know."
"Well, Honey," Kitty said, "I can't promise you anything."
"Oh, I know. I know. But just having you here will be great. I know it!"
TBC
