Finn was outside, in the snow, freezing, but he was going to accomplish his mission. He was dressed in a red cloak and pointed hat with a red bag on a sled. Finn was the town's St. , Nikolaus, since he was the only one tall enough, and the children only saw Finn once a month when he came into town for necessary supplies and business. The cloak and bag was encase any child looked at their windows; they would see St. Nikolaus walking through town. So he was the perfect St. Nikolaus and the elders of the town "volunteered" him for it. He didn't mind though. He liked making the children happy, and this time of year was his favorite, or had been in the past.
The snow was coming down hard and it was about one in the morning by Finn's pocket watch. Finn only had one more house to finish and he could go back to the manor. As Finn finished filling the shoes with small toys, oranges and gingerbread, he started to walk off towards the woods near the edge of town. He had to keep the red cloak on until he reached his wagon and horse, hiding in the woods. As the town disappeared from view, Finn heard the sound of a running horse and a screaming woman. Why is a woman out this late at night? Finn thought to himself and he searched through the snow for the woman and horse. Finally Finn saw a carriage pulled by one wild looking horse and a scared small girl trying to pull on the reins to no avail. That's when Finn stood up at this full height to stop the horse.
Rachel was scared to death. The hired horse and carriage were out of control and there was nothing she could do. It wasn't that she was trying, but it was very late at night, no one was up and no matter what she did, the spooked horse just kept running at full speed. Rachel felt the frozen tears on her cheeks and knew she had no idea where the damned beast had taken her. When she thought she saw a town, she screamed, hoping to alert someone to her situation. The snow was coming down so hard, Rachel could barely see what was in front of her, but then after her screams, she saw something in the clearing, and it looked huge and to be covered in red.
She scrunched her eyes closed, afraid of what was about to happen. She heard a loud, clear whistle and felt the red monster grab the bridle of the horse. It felt as if the horse dragged the monster a few feet, but Rachel heard a calming "whoa" and the horse settled down. When the carriage came to a stop, she opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed her eyes during the ordeal. When she looked down, it wasn't a red monster, but a tall man in a red cloak that had come to her rescue. He looked up at her and walked around and offered his hand to help her down. As she stood up, she heard a noise from the horse and obviously he did too, because he grabbed her waist and pulled her to him, quickly.
As Finn heard the animal snort, he knew the horse was going to take off again, so he grabbed the girl by the waist and yanked her down as the animal took off with the carriage. The force sent Finn backwards into the snow with the girl falling on top of him. When Finn looked up he saw that she wasn't a girl, but a young woman, possibly around his age. Why is she out her, on her own, in the middle of the night? Finn wondered. "Are you okay ma'am? You're not hurt or anything are you?" Finn asked concerned, because the lady hadn't said anything, but just stared at him. When Finn realized his hands were still around her waist, he pulled her up into a standing position and then stood up himself. She still hadn't said anything, "Are you a mute ma'am?" As soon as it came out of his mouth, Finn mentally slapped himself over his stupidity.
No one in my entire life has ever asked Rachel Berry if she was a mute. Most wanted to muzzle me because I talk too much. Rachel thought with amusement, allowing a smile to appear. She couldn't talk because her rescuer was alarmingly handsome in the full moonlight. When Rachel could find her voice she answered his questions, "I'm fine sir. I'm not hurt. Scared yes, but not hurt. I don't even know where that devil beast brought me!" She looked around and saw that she was in an open clearing with woods to her right. "And, may I ask, what are you sir doing in the middle of the night wearing a red cloak in the middle of nowhere? I do know how to defend myself!" Rachel tried to sound serious, but she new it came out as a joke.
Her rescuer laughed, "I was playing St. Nikolaus for the town you passed. And to answer one of your questions, you are near Lima Ohio. A small town in the middle of nowhere, but a pleasant town that is like a family, and I am the weird uncle of the family." He held out his hand and shook hers. She noticed his hand was huge, and covered hers perfectly.
When Finn grabbed her hand, he noticed how his covered hers and seemed to protect it. When he looked up the lady's teeth were chattering due to the cold. Without thinking he took the red cloak off and put it around her. The cloak was so big on her it made a red pool around her. When she tried to walk, she lost her balance, so with a look of amusement, Finn picked her up and carried her bridal style, walking in the night towards the woods. Finn looked down and saw that she looked alarm. "Don't worry. My wagon and horse are waiting for me just inside the woods. I have to hide them so the children don't become suspicious. I'll take you home for the rest of the evening so that you can rest, and in the morning, I'll bring you back to town so you can get things straightened out and be on your way." She looked alarm when he had said taking her home. Okay, that came out really wrong. She probably thinks I'm some deviant or something. Crap.
"I may be big, but I'm harmless. I'm pretty much a hermit. Don't interact with the town too much, except for the Feast of St. Nikolaus and my monthly trips for supplies and business. By the way, what is your name? I'm Finneus Hudson, but please call me Finn. I'd shake your hand, but they're rather full at the moment." He chuckled at his own bad joke.
"I'm Rachel Berry, a performer of the stage. I was on my way to my next performance in Chicago when I was hijacked by that devil beast." Finn reached the wagon and sat her down on the seat. Grabbing the quilt he kept in the wagon, he covered her some more, hoping she stayed warm. Her teeth had at least stopped chattering. Her teeth… when she smiled, it was so bright and beautiful it seemed to light up the dark night. Finn threw the sled and bag in the back and covered them with a tarp. He grabbed the reins and clicked his tongue letting Copper, his horse, know to start back home with his passenger, one Miss Rachel Berry.
