The day was unseasonably warm, and the air was dry. Annalesa, her father, and her brother were in town for the annual fall festival. Her mother had died two years ago from an accident on the farm. Annalesa's father was talking with a group of men by the stables and Annalesa and her brother Michael were walking arm in arm, admiring the sights and taking in the smells of the pies and vegetables competing for first prize. The air was filled with the sounds of children laughing and adults talking with friends, free for one day from the daily work that was the center of life in a small town.

"Oh Michael, if only every day were like this."

"You always were a silly girl. You know that wouldn't work. But all the same, it is nice."

The siblings continued to walk along the main street, stopping to chat with friends along the way. The day passed without much interruption and as evening fell, the townspeople began to move into the hotel. It was tradition that everyone stayed in the hotel the night of the festival after the dance was over. Annalesa was suddenly glad she had worn her lightest dress for the day because the air inside the hotel was stuffy and the room was crowded. The band began a series of fast Irish pieces. Everyone, even the children, paired up and danced the complicated steps they had been taught since they were able to walk. Annalesa danced with one partner after another, her feet and hair flying. After a while she begged off and made her way over to the food table to grab some punch. She noticed how warm it was and stepped out onto the front porch to catch her breath. The air had cooled off a bit since that afternoon and held the comforting fall smell of burning leaves and wood fires in people's fireplaces.

"Hello Annalesa." She turned to see Sean standing behind her.

"Hello Sean. I trust you are enjoying yourself?"

"I would be far happier if you would dance with me." Usually Annalesa would have politely refused, but tonight the music was pulsing in her veins and her feet were itching to dance again.

"Well then let's go!" Sean took her arm and they made their way inside. The band had started playing a few slower songs to allow the townspeople to catch their breath and many of the adults and smaller children had already gone up to their rooms to sleep. There were still plenty of young people left along with the single adults and some young couples with no children to put to bed. Some of the parents had even come back down after seeing their children were asleep.

The couples moved slowly around the dance floor, some laughing with each other, others simply enjoying the night. Suddenly, a loud shout startled everyone.

"The store's on fire!"

The next minutes were a blur of activity. The men quickly gathered to put out the fire and instructed all the women and children to stay in the hotel since they would be in the way outside. Annalesa stood on the porch and watched as the flames began to work their way down the row of wooden structures that made up the town. The hotel was separated from the nearest building by a small alley. Annalesa watched the figures run back and forth from the water pump with buckets and tubs full of water. Finally they gave up on saving any building the fire had already touched and ran to the hotel.

"Annalesa! Inside! NOW!" It was Michael screaming at her. "We have to soak the hotel so move!"

She nodded, understanding, and ran inside. All the women and their children were either in their rooms or in the parlor. Most had stayed upstairs with the children but some of Annalesa's friends were downstairs. All looked petrified. Annalesa simply couldn't stay inside doing nothing, so she ran outside.

"'Lesa! Stay inside!" Her father yelled at her.

"Papa please! I can't stay in there! Let me help you!" Just then her brother ran up.

"'Lesa no! Please go back in! There's nothing you can do!"

"Please! I can stay out of the way!"

"Fine...Michael...watch her!" With that her father ran over to the other men.

"Michael, go help, I'll be fine!"

"You promise not to get in the way?" Annalesa nodded. "Ok. Stay right here." And Michael ran over to help as well.

The men were trying to soak the side of the hotel nearest the flames, but Annalesa saw a spark land on the roof. Suddenly the roof of the hotel was ablaze. The wood was dry and the building was old, so the fire traveled quickly down the sides of the building. Most of the windows were open from the dance so the fire had an easy way inside. In less than thirty seconds the whole building was burning and people were trapped inside before they realized what was happening. Annalesa could hear the screams coming from inside as people tried to get out. The men now devoted themselves to saving the people inside. Annalesa saw then run in and out, carrying limp forms in their arms. She ran over to help the people who had gotten out and then saw her brother heading towards the hotel.

"Michael! Don't!" But he didn't hear her and soon disappeared into the flames. Annalesa stood frozen for what seemed like an eternity. Suddenly Michael's face appeared at a window on the top floor. His voice sounded like a child's when he cried out "Papa! Help us!" Her father didn't hesitate and ran into the building. She watched the door until her eyes burned from the heat, but nobody came back out. She stood until the hotel was no more than a pile of cinders on the ground, but her father and brother were not there.

She looked at the people who were milling around outside. The crying and wailing was unbearable and the stench of burnt wood and cloth hung in the air. Not realizing what she was doing, Annalesa turned and ran into the night.

Annalesa bolted upright in bed. She shook her head and realized that her hair and face were soaked with tears. Outside her window the sun was shining. She got up and realized that she had slept in her clothes and left all the lamps on. She dressed in one of her old dresses and put the house back in order. Then she packed her old suitcase with the things she needed from her house and walked out to the barn. She got Katie and rode out into the sun. She rode down the road a ways and looked back at her house for the last time. Then she rode off towards town.