Riding into McKinley was quite a sight. The cart wound down into the valley and came up to a fork trail in the road. Brittany looked over to her right and saw a cluster of wooden houses that lined near the trees and backed onto the forest and hill areas that surround the town. To her left, she noticed a simple church with a wooden cross hanging from the front, looming over towards the town, as if to silently judge and remind people of the ideals that society expected from them.
Brittany sighed internally to herself. She was never an avid Bible reader. They made her, just like everyone else, read and analyse the teachings of God at Sunday school and church and regular school. Never to escape. Not that she would ever let anybody know apart from Kurt who shared the same ideals as her, but she did not buy into the belief as much as everybody else seemed to. If there was a God, why did he let bad things happen to good people? She dreaded every Sunday that she would have to visit the temple for a short while to worship and pray. Or even worse, if she had to teach Sunday school in this new town.
She looked behind the church to see a large wire fence run through the plain and loop around to come back to the church. Filled inside were wooden crosses poked into the ground. Some markings were from stone with carvings on. A graveyard. The final resting place for those unfortunate souls who did not manage to survive this unforgiving land. The darkness that had buried deep inside of Brittany was trying to claw its way up her throat, tears stung her eyes as she tried to hamper the beast within.
"It's okay Britt-"Kurt noticed the girl's struggle and swiftly moved down the centre trail, past the church, past the houses and past that overbearing cross.
The middle trail was the start of a long and wide thoroughfare. The heart of McKinley. Brittany looked over and down and around. Drinking in everything, from the faces to the buildings. Everybody seemed busy, everyone was in a rush, carts and horses traveled through the street, people were shouting across from each other. The noise was tremendous. At this early in the morning, she wondered what the town would be like of a night. She passed the various signs of the buildings, giving away the purpose they had at McKinley.
RUTHERFORD AND SONS. UNDERTAKER CO.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SHERIFF: WILLIAM SCHUESTER DEPUTY SHERIFF: DAVID KAROFSKY
HUDSON'S GENERAL STORE
SMYTHE THEATRE AND SALOON
This theatre and saloon resided on the corner between the main thoroughfare which continued on and a road that lay adjacent. Brittany could tell this saloon was obviously the soul of the town. Right in the middle, in the heart. The building was a great two story, oak construction. The sign painted with rich green, red and purple colours. There were several tying posts outside with water troughs and people were coming and going from the swinging doors. Even this early on. She looked to the second story and saw three girls wearing deep red dresses, their hair in ringlets, smoking from the balcony. They looked thoroughly bored with the bustling life beneath them.
Kurt steered the horse right, coming onto the road that lay adjacent. They passed the saloon and came to a large building, around three stories high with windows and a large porch outside.
SAMUEL EVANS HOTEL
Kurt stopped the cart and glanced over the building.
"Well this looks grand" Brittany had to agree. The building was magnificent and she was glad that if she couldn't stay at the house yet, at least she could lay in a clean establishment. She hopped off the cart with more grace than a lady should have considering her attire of a long ruffled dress. It gave the appearance of sophistication and wealth, even if this was not entirely the case. Kurt truly was a great tailor. She went around to the front of the horse and stroked her hand down his long nose.
"Thank you for getting us here safely" she whispered to the horse as she scratched at his neck. He nuzzled his nose into her palm as she gave him the last of her apple that she had saved especially for the horse. Yes, even animals loved Brittany Hummel.
The couple made their way up the porch and swung the doors open. Kurt had to run back and make sure he secured the horse so Brittany made her way over to the counter to check in. The man behind the counter, whom she assumed to be the Samuel Evans that the sign alluded to looked up at her. His slicked, long blonde hair stuck to his head. Smarmed down with some concoction Brittany could only guess at. His wide mouth curled into a smile when he saw the young lady in front of him.
Brittany slightly shivered. She had seen that look before. Back in Ames, Nebraska. She did not like it then and she did not like it now. She knew what that smile lead to and that was partly the reason Kurt and she had decided to take Burt up on his offer to come to McKinley. But no. She couldn't think of that. Not now, not ever. New town, new start.
"Hello, Miss-" Samuel Evans left the sentence open,
"Mrs Brittany Hummel" Brittany stressed the first part, however this dopey looking man did not seem to be affected by her harsh highlighting.
"Oh! Miss Brittany, the new schoolteacher, we have heard so much about your visit. I am so honoured you chose to stay at Samuel Evans Hotel until your house has been completed. I am Samuel Evans. Sam to you though miss" Sam, who was trying to smarm his hair down even more, did obviously not notice the correction that Brittany had tried to previously make. She gritted her teeth into a smile and was about to explain that her husband was the new tailor when she felt said husband rush up next to her.
"Oh I am so sorry for that, just had to make sure the horse wouldn't run away with all our items. Hello, Kurt Hummel, the new tailor, and I see you've made acquaintance with my wife Brittany, the new schoolteacher. We have a double bedroom here." Kurt stuck his hand out to shake whilst Sam looked between the two, the smile previously on his face slowly being wiped away.
"Mr Hummel, so nice to finally put a name to face. Everybody is so excited about your arrival." Sam shook his hand, whilst switching his gaze between Kurt and Brittany. Kurt grimaced as he felt his hand encased by Sam's sticky one. One look at his hair and Kurt understood why. "You are a lucky man to have such a beautiful lady as your wife. I will get your bags from the cart and show you to your room. We have a dining area just to your right there. All the guests usually eat there, we currently have two guests all the way from the fancy east coast. A Mr Biff McIntosh and his lovely wife Mrs Quinn McIntosh. They are staying here until the renovations to their house is complete. You'll be seeing them around. Come this way"
Sam ushered the couple up the stairs to the first floor, he put his bags down and handed Kurt the key to room 6.
"Well this is your room, I hope everything is satisfactory. Let me know if you need anything at all. Goodbye Mr Hummel, Mrs Brittany" Sam looked to Kurt, slid his eyes over to Brittany and finally turned around and back down the stairs.
"Well, he was…friendly" Kurt observes as he walks into the room and shuts the door. "Kind of handsome, if you get passed the moistened down hair. I mean goodness gracious."
Brittany looked at Kurt and smirked. Samuel Evans she had to admit was quite handsome. But she would rather have sat through six sermons in a row than stay in his company any longer. She had a hard time looking past his over-appreciative stare. She knew what men were capable of. And she hated it, the leering, and the self-entitlement. It just reminded her of…no. She couldn't
"Hey Britt, why don't you freshen up and we will go see father. Then we can walk into the town to get our bearings and see what's around" Brittany agreed and went to small room off to the side with washing necessities. She was excited to see the town, with one particular place that kept jumping to the front of her mind. It wasn't too unladylike to visit a saloon now was it?
Brittany and Kurt walked down the stairs, her arm threaded through his. They looked picture perfect. Coming out of what Sam said to be the restaurant was another young couple just like them. The man had a perfectly tailored suit with a pocket watch tucked into the side. His features were refined and his hair was, like Kurt's perfectly coifed. He screamed money and wealth and unfortunately he was the sort of man that wanted everybody to know.
Brittany looked over at his companion, just a bit shorter than he. The lady had on a beautifully made corset dress and with her blonde hair perfectly curled around her face, the longer strands tied behind to make a hair do that looked incredibly classy. Her face and the way she carried herself was almost regal and Brittany had to stop herself from curtsying when the other couple approached.
"Mr Kurt Hummel, I believe, the new tailor?" The gentleman stopped in front of the two and looked down at Kurt. "I am Biff McIntosh, nice to finally meet you, everyone cannot stop talking about the dynamic duo that was soon to arrive here. This is my wife Quinn" The man, who almost had a sneer on his face when talking about Kurt and Brittany gestured to his wife. The woman, who dazzled the two with her brilliant smile and kind hazel eyes looked to each before offering her hand. Quinn McIntosh was obviously an absolute lady.
"Pleasure to meet you, and you must be Brittany. I am so looking forward to seeing you around. We must arrange a meet for lunch or maybe dinner whilst our husbands are hard at work" Quinn let her smile falter just slightly as she mentioned the work of men.
"Of course, it would be an absolute delight." Brittany looked into the bright, hopeful eyes of Quinn and started to believe her own words. The two couples said their goodbyes and Kurt and Brittany left the establishment. Travelling a short way down to the livery and blacksmith that resided at the end of this road.
She passed the tailors that Kurt would be working at and marvelled and the black painted wood. Kurt had a good eye and this place was certainly going to catch attention. They walked onwards and came to the blacksmith building, with the livery just next door. Brittany followed Kurt through the large doors and heard the clanging sound of metal. A sound she had missed when Burt had left Ames some months before.
Kurt called out to his father and after a short while the banging stopped. Burt Hummel rounded the corner and his eyes illuminated when he saw his son and Brittany. Burt Hummel was a stocky man, not overly tall or wide, with a bald head and very kind eyes. The same eyes that Brittany had come to trust with her life. She felt her heart swell with love when she saw the man that had been a presence in her life since she was a small girl.
"Kurt! Brittany! I wondered when you would get here. Come here, the both of you." Burt was enveloped in a hug by the pair. "How was the journey? Was it good? Was it safe? Brittany how was it? Are you okay? Are you hungry? Did you eat?"
"Father, please. We are fine, it was safe and we've eaten already"
Bless Burt Hummel and his overprotective nature. He considered Brittany one of his own and would be dammed if any more harm came her way.
"We actually just came by to see how everything is and then we are going into town to see what McKinley is all about" Brittany explained.
"Oh good, I am going there soon myself to talk to the sheriff, I will be sure to introduce you if you are around."
A young man, around the same age as Kurt, with slick backed hair and overalls matching Burt's came around the corner. His eyes were very dark yet he had a lightness about him that put Brittany at ease. He was not a threat.
"Oh Blaine, meet my kids. Well my son and his wife but, same thing. Kurt, Brittany this is Blaine Anderson. He's my assistant." Kurt made the introductions and Blaine took Brittany's hand, bowing in front of her. Brittany observed that he was not smarmy or like the men that she had been introduced to in the past. He was very charming.
"Incredibly nice to meet you Mrs Hummel, and you Mr Hummel" Blaine looked over at Kurt, his smile growing just that bit wider as they shook hands.
"Oh please just Kurt and Brittany. We're all friends here. Or so we could be" Kurt gave a small chuckle that matched the softness of his voice. That was one thing that Brittany loved about Kurt. He was soft spoken, not gruff like many of the men in the west.
The four made small talk for a while, about the state of affairs around the land, the town, the journey. They never once excluded Brittany from the conversation; she felt that as long as these three men were around, she might just be ok.
Soon, Kurt and Brittany and Burt made their way out and back towards the main thoroughfare, passing the bank and the road that led down towards the school. Burt stepped up towards the building marked the Sheriff's office and motioned the two inside. There were two cells, currently occupied by two men, who were both still sleeping. A man was seated at the desk, furiously scribbling down. He looked up then and saw the three figures in front of him. Burt made the introductions and the sheriff turned his attentions towards Brittany.
"Mrs Hummel, I am so very grateful to have you here. To be honest, I couldn't keep up teaching that much longer, what with this job and my wife is with child. I am so glad you are here. We have one other teacher who will teach bible studies, Sunday school and some English, Miss Shelby-" Brittany, ironically, sent a thanks to the heavens above "- and then you can take some English classes too and math. But she will talk about that with you at a later date I'm sure"
Will Schuester finished his speech whilst Brittany eyed him over. His hair, whilst slicked was also curly, as if the unruly hair would not comb straight for him. He had a strong face and expressive eyes. He seemed like a decent human being. He was sheriff after all.
"Hey Will, April's out there again screaming about some man or something about a drink or...I don't know. I told her to shut her damn mouth unless she wants to spend a night with these boys. " A tall, burly man entered the office. He had a smaller star on his chest that read deputy. This must be David Karofsky, Brittany thought to herself. Simply put, Brittany thought, he looked like a menace. And the way he spoke about that April lady. He must be that sort of man.
He looked over at Brittany with much disinterest and moved over to Kurt. He spent far more time with his eyes on him than her. Brittany wondered about this, she would have to watch out for this deputy. And warn Kurt of the same.
"We must be going now, thank you Sheriff" Brittany cut in. She marched past Karofsky and said a goodbye to Burt. Kurt caught up to her as they walked arm in arm through the street. They passed many of the buildings that they had already seen earlier today. The undertaker was outside, carving stone down into an arch. Brittany moved swiftly past. She looked over the road and saw a very small, very thin woman stumbling around, bottle in hand. She was arguing with the air and kept swigging from her bottle. Maybe this was April Brittany thought. She looked harmless enough for a drunk.
Past the hardware store, a small side road, barely wide enough to fit a cart, lay. The strangest smell emitted from this alley. Like a farmyard with some flowery smell which clashed against each other. Brittany looked down and saw row upon row of hung laundry from the sides of the two buildings. There were big tents put up with various pots, people were stirring whatever was in the water, which had steam rising from it. Brittany deduced that this must be the laundry area.
Further past that, a pig sty was taking up much space in one of the open tents. Brittany noticed that all of the people were not like her, or Kurt or Burt. They were all Chinese. The Chinese that must have been bought over to work on the railroads. That explains the Chinese laundry then. She had read about them. Brittany was incredibly intrigued by this alley. However, Kurt moved them on and they ended up walking into the general store.
"Howdy, I'm Finn Hudson. I've seen you around earlier today, you must be that new couple. Kicking up quite a storm around these parts. We all needed a new tailor and schoolteacher." The dopey man smiled at Brittany and Kurt. He had a kind smile and if Brittany squinted, she thought he resembled maybe a newborn baby with a full head of hair and teeth. Kurt and Finn made small talk about the town and how well his business runs around here. Brittany tuned in to hear the last part of their conversation when she heard about the place that mystified her so.
"-yeah my wife Rachel, she is singing at the saloon tonight. Sebastian lets her sing once a week, she tried making it a daily thing but Puck and Santana shut that idea down pretty quick. It is quite a show. You should both come. The whole town will be there. Gives you a chance to meet everyone. I hear that fancy eastern couple will be there too."
Brittany's was even more interested now. What would Rachel sound like if she wasn't allowed 7 days a week? Who is Sebastian? And what kind of a name is Puck? Santana. She thought about that name in her head. Can't be a local name, she must not come from here either. Santana. It was a lovely name though. Who was she? Maybe it will be a good chance to talk to Quinn more. And meet everyone in town.
"Doesn't that sound delightful Brittany? Yes, of course, we will be there! Wonderful, thank you Finn, we will see you there!"
On the way back to town, Kurt saw Brittany deep in thought. "What do you think Britt? Wanna go?" Kurt looked over, silently pleading with his eyes.
"Sure Kurt, I'm going to head back to the hotel, come and meet me later and we can go" Kurt squealed with delight and Brittany giggled. She was looking forward to tonight. She had to admit that everyone had been welcoming to her. She wondered what the night would hold for her at the Smythe Theatre and Saloon.