Note : all the
references to Meals such as Dinner and Supper…Dinner refers to What we know as
Lunch, and Supper is What we know as Dinner.. The Word lunch wasn’t used. And depending on background some people still
don’t….
Masks We Wear?
Arriving at the New Orleans train depot, just before Noon,…
The conductor making his way through the cars…. Well, Folks it looks like we’ve made good time.. we’ll be disembarking
in a few moments,… I do hope you enjoy you stay here in New Orleans…? Kitty
smiled up at him, with a reply,.. Oh, New Orleans was My Home I will enjoy it
very Much…Thank You!
As they descended the train, Kitty looked around in quiet
thought,… “Home!.. Or use to be? Kitty, I’ll be right back I want to get us a
carriage…Matt said watching her. nodding, she continued to look around .. New Orleans was so Beautiful this
time of year…. If only I were here for a
Happier Reason?
Matt returned with a carriage ,.. Ma’am may I escort you to your destination?.. he was trying to lighten the mood. Oh,
Matt!.. he help her aboard ,.. then added the Bags… Kitty, I must say I’ll never understand,.. why women need so many bags? Cowboy,… woman are just a bit more complicated
than Men!.. Huffing just a little.. You Don’t say? Which way Ma’am…? Straight ahead,.. to Chartres’ Street… Matt was sort’s enjoying the ride ,..
seeing the place His Love was Born and grew up… even if for just a while…. Matt, we can go to the Hotel first, .. then
we can go find Dinner,.. smirking,.. I know it been several hours since you
devoured any food!... There
rode through the French Quarter,… Ahhh Matt isn’t it just
Beautiful? Yeah, Kitty it is… Oh, over
there.. Chartres’ Street. As they made
their way , you could hear music in the street… vendors … selling their
wares…. , ahhh, here we are …!
The pulled up in front of The Le Richelieu Hotel! It was in typical French Quarter Design…. A large three story Red Brick
Building,… with Black Iron Balconies ,
Two Large French Door at the entrance…
again, this was a usual place kitty would stay when she visited New
Orleans…..
As they arrived a Door man , approached,… looking up,… Ahhh Miss Russell ?..so Nice to see you
again.. and so happy to have you back as our guest…we here at LeRichelieu are beginning to think of you as family ,… Tilting her head,just slightly,… Eduard’
Thank You so very Much .. it’s good to be back … Eduard’ this is Marshal
Dillon,.. he will be staying here as
well… Nodding and shaking Matt hand… Anything
you need ,.. Just ask. Any friend of
Miss Russell’…
They checked into two adjoining rooms… in most of these
hotels ,.. one of which is much smaller,… they were considered ,… Discretionary
… Mainly to protect a Woman’s reputation… Mr. Le Mont’ how nice to see you again! As you Miss Russell…. I’ll have a Bell boy take your bags to your
rooms… Thank You… they followed
the Bell Boy as he carried the bags,… when they reached the rooms,.. Matt
looked at Kitty… a bit red in the face,..
Cowboy it’s fine…, Sir, I’ll take your
bags to the other room… And we’ll place yours Ma’am in here… opening the
door,.. walking into a brightly lit airy room with a Large wooden Four poster
Bed in the center.. with sheer scarfing…. over the canopy…. Kitty leaned into
Matt,…Just your size Cowboy! …
Kitty?... she began to laugh… she
tipped the bell boy,.. Thank You,.. we
won’t be needing anything else right now…
As she unpack a few essentials,… Matt,… as I said We can have Dinner,.. then , I’d like to stop and
Pick out Flowers for Mother’s Grave….
They have the most beautiful Flowers in the Market… Ok Kit.. whatever you want! But Matt knew his stomach was growling…
Kitty suggested they eat at “Muriel’s” in Jackson
Square. It was close to the hotel just
down the end of Chartres’ Street. It
was a small quaint .. place,.. dim lighting,… decorated in rich jewel
tone.. The Host,… seated them in a quiet
corner… and handed them Menus’ … May I bring you something to refresh you
pallet’ … quickly,.. with out think ,Matt said. Beer ! Please? Nothing just now ,.. maybe with the
meal? Right away Ma’am… Kit, this is a far cry from Delmonico’s…. Matt any place is a far cry from Joe’s ,..
daily killings off the prairie …! They
ordered a Baked Stuffed Merlitron, With Shirmp and Andouille stuffing. With a roasted creole Tomato Sauce…. A bit fancy
for Matt’s taste,.. he would have preferred, a Steak and Potato…
After, Dinner,… they walked down to the local market area,…
there were Floral Vendors .. with the most gorgeous Floral arrangements…. Kitty spotted Magnolia’s,.. These were her Mother’s favorite,.. she
never forgot that. After getting a
carriage , which she had arranged for ,… They
rode down to canal Street,.. and waited for the Gretna Ferry to take them to Algier’s Point … a small island across the
Mississippi… where St. Anne church , and cemetery… were located… also where, the school Kitty had attended..
was as well. As they came closer…. Matt,… It’s strange you know? How so Kit? Now keeping an arm around her shoulder. I
haven’t been here in, then she stopped… thinking how long it had been since
she had come to visit her Mother’s grave ,.. and Now? She’d be visiting Both ,.. Mother and
Father. It still tore at her heart
strings that she lost her Mother so young…
Once the rode off the ferry,… and made their way to St.
Anne’s .. Kitty felt her chest tightening…. As she walked through the cemetery…. The sadness begun to overtake her…. Then, she
came upon,.. The Two headstones….. marked : Annalaise “LaRouge” Russell, Loving
Mother and Wife, and Wayne Russell ,
Loving Father and Husband….. Kitty’s
eyes filled with tears…. How could they
put that on his stone? Matt said
nothing… Just below her Mother’s name
,.. was etched,.. Infant Boy “Russell”
Matt noticed the dates… He had
never asked Kitty about her Mother’s death,… it always seemed to be a sensitive
topic… Now he knew … she died after childbirth… Kitty knelt, down at the foot of the
graves…. Matt just backed away enough to give her privacy…. OHHH
Mother! I miss you so… I know I
haven’t been back in some time ,but…..
This doesn’t seem like Home to me anymore…
Mother ,there is so much I want to tell you…. About me,… and where I
live… My friends…. Oh,.. My Business… and Mother especially ... about Matt… Tears were now trickling down
her cheeks…. Oh, Mother I Love him so …
I know you’d like him a lot… Then she looked over at her Father’s stone…
then back again… not like Father at all…
Oh,,, I know how much you loved him … and always had hope,.. of him coming home
to stay with us for good… But Mother…..I’ve
learned things about him…. Things I don’t like ,.. at all. He’ll always be My Father … but,…..now
she placed her face in both hands…. Well,
I guess you know now… I’ve lost you both? She sat quietly for some time….. then a
small husky man .. approached… as he came closer, Excuse Me,…? When Kitty
turned to see who was talking,… The husky little man ,.. said to her.. Well
I’ll Be !,.. is it?.. is it really you ?... Kitty looking at him blankly…. I’m sorry Mister.. do I know you?…
Matt moved back in closer… Kathleen ?.. Kathleen Russell… Little
Kathleen? Furrowing her brow,… I believe you have me at a disadvantage
here Mister…. Oh, I’m sorry .. I’m
Reverend Tremont’ ..I’m the Pastor here
at St. Anne’s… Well I’ll be … Kathleen!
Well that’s who I am…. But I don’t remember you? Oh, you probably wouldn’t now … you know
Older,.. and ..maybe a bit more portly…. Kitty Smiled. I’m sorry
I won’t be Long ,..Just wanted to stop here while I was in New Orleans… Oh ,No Child… You go right ahead… and My
condolences on your Father’s passing… Thank You… after he walked away.. Matt helped Kitty
off the ground…. Kitty just turned and
placed her head on Matt’s chest… Cowboy?.. Can we go now? She looked back at the graves,… “Goodbye Mother “… then looked to the
side… Father….? Matt lead her down a small path
towards their carriage….. unaware ,..of the Eyes that followed Them!
TBC
