That was all they’d lost, he concluded grimly.

After a while Ed Henne, the fire chief, stood beside him. “I’m awfully sorry, Alec,” he said. “We’re hooking up our pump to the pond but we won’t save much.”

“I know, Ed. Thanks, anyway.”

The fire burned brightly until dawn while neighbors came and went, some only to watch the fiery spectacle and others to offer their sympathy as well. During one of those long hours his mother stood beside Alec, sharing his loss. She said, “It could have been so much worse, Alec. What if Henry had been at home and asleep? Think how horrible that would have been! Remember, too, that you’ve lost none of your horses and there’s the insurance to cover the barn.”

He hadn’t told his mother how wrong she was. If Henry had been at home there’d have been no fire. And there was no insurance. He hadn’t wanted to worry her about the lapsed policy then, with the fire so bright in her face.

The roar of lashing, leaping flames died with the gray light of day. The last of the spectators left and then finally the fire truck. There was nothing more to be seen or done. The barn lay black and gutted with only the two stone end walls standing.

“What are you going to do, Alec?” Mr. Ramsay asked, searching the eyes of his son. They hadn’t been a youth’s eyes for several years, he realized. Too much had happened to Alec. Too many quick decisions had been made in his young life. Too many fast horses had been ridden.

Turning from the water-sodden debris that was all that was left of their broodmare barn, Alec said, “It’s not as if it was winter and we couldn’t get along without it for a while. The mares and colts can use the field sheds for shelter. We’ll keep Miz Liz and her colt in the yearling barn for a few days and then turn them out with the others.”

His father nodded. “We’ll have the new barn up long before cold weather sets in.”

“We will if I can raise the money to rebuild it,” Alec said quietly.

His father turned to him, bewildered. “You don’t have to worry about that, Alec,” he said. “Our insurance covers the barn for the full amount. It’s for a hundred thousand dollars, I think. I’ll check the policy right away, and put in our claim for payment.”

“There’s no insurance, Dad. The policy lapsed three days ago.”

“I-it what? … You mean? … How do you know, Alec?”

“I just put the premium notice on your desk tonight. I’ve had it for the past two weeks.”

“You mean you forgot to give it to me?” Mr. Ramsay asked.

Alec nodded miserably. “I left it in my suit pocket.”

Mr. Ramsay turned and looked at the gutted building.