have my laptop, so I can set up shop wherever you want me to,” Amelia said.
“Good,” Rick said. “Let’s go into the gymnasium. That’s where the men from Ohio are unloading their supplies. Three dozen flood victims stayed here last night. You can start processing their applications for help right away.”
Vicky and Amelia preceded him into the crowded gym, and tears of compassion stung Amelia’s eyes when she saw the bedraggled people staring at them. The elderly, the middle-aged and several children sat quietly in the room, no evidence of hope in their bleak eyes.
God, she prayed silently. These people have lost everything except You. Be very near them today. Use me as Your instrument to bring peace to their hearts.
Amelia sat at the folding table Rick Smith brought and started her computer. While she waited for her programs to appear on the screen, her fingers drummed idly on the table as she glanced around the large room. Two men were carrying buckets, mops, brooms, cartons of bottled water and cartons of cleaning supplies into the gym. Amelia surmised that they were the men from Vicky’s church.
A quick breath of astonishment burst from Amelia’s lips as she took a closer look at one of the men. Even his back looked familiar. He could be a Red Cross representative she’d met before, though she thought the recognition went beyond that.
As she watched, the man turned, and a shock of disbelief shattered her composure. Although his fair, wavy hair was silvering a bit at the temples, and the years had etched deeper lines on his face, there was no mistaking the classic features and clear gray eyes of Chase Ramsey. Imagine meeting him again after fifteen years!
Amelia’s stomach knotted and she shuddered inwardly. She lowered her eyes, hoping Chase wouldn’t recognize her.
God, I’m not ready for this. If Chase is the reason You brought me to West Virginia, I’m ready to go home now.
Amelia had thought she’d put the past behind her, but obviously, she needed more time to erase the grief Chase had caused her. And she was suddenly overcome with a sense of loss when she considered that, in all probability, Chase might be married.
Chase Ramsey straightened from placing a large carton of bottled water on the floor. He waved at Vicky, and his gaze rested on the woman beside her as he turned to bring in another load of supplies. He stopped in his tracks. Instantly aware of his scrutiny, Amelia looked up, and recognition dawned in his eyes. He walked quickly across the room.
“Of all places to meet you!” Chase said as he reached for Amelia’s hand. The surprise in his eyes was replaced by pleasure as he admired Amelia. Still as beautiful as ever, he thought, wondering if he should have been more discreet. Remembering her harsh words at their last encounter, he realized that Amelia might not share his joy in this meeting.
Amelia was still a graceful woman, of medium height in her early forties. She held her well-formed body erect. Heavy brown hair surrounded her pale golden skin, and she looked at him with enormous dark eyes. Her lips parted in a slight smile, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Amelia had always worn expensive clothes, and Chase thought she looked like a harbinger of spring in her sea-green pants suit and floral print blouse.
Amelia placed her hand in his, saying calmly, “Hello, Chase.” She hoped he wasn’t aware of the anxiety and frustration churning in her stomach.
Rick Smith and Vicky watched this reunion, and Rick said, “Apparently you’ve met before.”
“Guess you could say that,” Chase said, grinning broadly. “Have you been introduced? Rick, this is Amelia…” He paused, and looked questioningly at Amelia’s left hand.
“It’s still Stone,” she said with an unreadable expression.
“Well, a lot could have happened since I’ve seen you, so I didn’t know.”
“I’ve already met Rick, and Vicky, too,” she said.
“Do you live in this area, Amelia?”
Conscious that Chase still held her hand, she pulled it from his grasp. “No, I’m here as a volunteer to help the flood victims. I came in a National Guard helicopter a short time ago.”
“And we have to get to work,” Rick said, fidgeting from one foot to another.
“Sorry,” Chase apologized. “We can talk this evening, Amelia. It’s good to see you again.”
Amelia looked after Chase as he returned to work. The knit shirt and well-worn jeans he wore enhanced his muscular physique. Chase was slightly taller than she was, and his compact, lean body moved with easy grace. Physically, he had changed very little since the last time they’d seen each other.
“I’m surprised that you know Mr. Ramsey,” Vicky said at her elbow.
“What?” Amelia had forgotten about the girl. “Oh, yes, we were in college together. How’d you know him?”
“He’s one of the men who came from our church with the truck full of supplies.”
Chase, a church member? What a surprise! When Amelia had known him, he wouldn’t have been found inside a church. And neither would I, she thought with a wry smile. She wanted to question Vicky about Chase, but people were queuing up in front of her, so Amelia turned her attention to helping them.
The afternoon’s activities allowed no time for reflection as she screened and approved applications from people whose homes had been destroyed by water or mud slides. Those who needed medication got attention first, and when Chase finished unloading the truck, he used the church van to drive several people to another town where, with Red Cross vouchers, they could buy their medicine.
When the center closed at six-thirty, Amelia stood, wearily stretching her back muscles and flexing her fingers. Delicious odors wafted from the church’s kitchen, and Amelia realized that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. The pastor of the church, Allen Chambers, approached Vicky and Amelia.
“We’re housing flood victims in the gym, but we have temporary facilities for you and the male workers on the second floor. Bring your luggage, and I’ll show you to your quarters so you can freshen up a bit before we eat.”
As Amelia and Vicky followed Allen Chambers upstairs, he explained, “We have a day school here at the church, but classes have been canceled during this crisis. We’re fortunate to have enough space to provide a service center.”
He opened a door into the primary department. “There are rest room facilities in here, a bit small for you, but I thought we should leave the larger rooms next door for the men. More workers will be here tomorrow, but you won’t be crowded tonight.” Grinning, Allen Chambers pointed to a stack of cots and bed linens.
“We don’t have maid service, so you’ll have to fix your own beds.”
Amelia had grown up with maid service, but after she started making her own living, she couldn’t afford to pay anyone to clean for her. A long roll of thunder reverberated around the building and gusts of rain struck the windows.
“It’s raining again!” Vicky cried. “What are these people going to do?”
“It is bad,” the pastor said. “And the worst part, many of these victims had their homes destroyed less than
