Pastor Chambers had mentioned that the church women would be serving breakfast at seven o’clock. When Amelia finished dressing, it was half-past six. She called Vicky’s name quietly, and the girl awakened immediately, seemingly none the worse for sleeping on the floor all night. Youth! Amelia thought enviously, when she compared the young woman’s bright and cheery attitude to her own low spirits. She doubted, though, that the uncomfortable cot was the only cause of her wretchedness this morning.
Amelia was usually more peppy upon awakening, and she knew that her exhaustion resulted from mental—rather than physical—fatigue. She hadn’t rested physically, because an overburdened mind had contributed to her restless night. Why had running into Chase caused her so much misery? She’d occasionally wondered how seeing him again would affect her. She’d never expected to experience the devastating anguish that had seared her heart the moment she had seen her ex-husband yesterday.
Memories of the past smothered Amelia, and she called to Vicky, who was still in the bathroom. “I’m going out for some fresh air. I’ll meet you in the gym.”
Leaving by the front door of the church, Amelia walked to the crest of the hill and looked out over the river valley. Below her, a two-lane highway, far above the river, provided some transportation. No trains moved along the railroad track at the base of the mountain, because the tracks were blocked by a floodwall gate. The Tug Fork River, the border between West Virginia and Kentucky, lapped several feet on the wall that protected the town of Williamson.
Remembering the devastation she’d seen from the helicopter, Amelia’s faith faltered momentarily. Why did God allow such destruction? She considered the apostle Paul and the many terrible things that happened to him. His faith had remained steadfast during all of his trials. Why bad things happen to good people was a question she’d never been able to answer.
Amelia hadn’t volunteered for this mission to ask questions. She was here to help troubled people, and she had to put aside her spiritual doubts and personal turmoil. Wondering what her duties would be today, Amelia turned back toward the church, praying that God would use her to make a difference in the lives of the flood victims.
After breakfast, Rick Smith stood on a small platform and called for their attention.
“I want to thank all of you volunteers for your prompt response to our needs. I’ve lived in this area all of my life, and I’ll quickly give you a brief rundown on our history. The first settlers arrived in the late eighteenth century, but the town of Williamson was organized a hundred years later. The heyday of our town was during the early twentieth century. Our population today is about five thousand, half of what it was a century ago. Many of our historic buildings were destroyed by frequent floods before we had floodwall protection, and many were razed to make room for the floodwall. Although it’s not what it used to be, Williamson is still a good place to live, and I hope you’ll feel welcome in the area.
“Today’s most urgent need is to find out how many people need help and to provide as much comfort as possible until more volunteers and supplies arrive.
“As soon as the roads are passable, several out-of-state churches will send portable kitchens and a staff to operate them,” he said. “They’ll do the cooking in a few central places, and our volunteers will take the food to the disaster areas. Today we need to canvas all of the flooded areas we can reach, see what the needs are and help as many people as we can. We can’t provide hot food today, but Chase and his buddy brought a lot of canned juice, water and snacks.”
“How long will it be before we can reach all the flooded areas?” a volunteer asked.
“The floodwaters are receding now, but representatives of the U.S. Corps of Engineers say that it will be weeks before we can drive into all of the affected areas. A lot of infrastructure has been destroyed. Go today prepared to hike into areas where the roads are impassable.”
“When will more Red Cross volunteers arrive?” someone in the crowd asked.
Rick Smith shook his head. “I don’t know. The National Guard brought in a few, but their helicopters are busy rescuing stranded people now. There are several truckloads of supplies stalled at the highway rest stop near Beckley, waiting to be delivered. As soon as the roads are open, we’ll have hundreds of helpers. It will be several days before we can get all of our supplies, emergency vehicles and more volunteers. In the meantime, we’ll make do with what we have. Today, I’m assigning you in teams of two to go out and assess the needs and help where possible.”
Rick Smith answered several questions from the flood victims, who wanted to know when they could go home. Over five inches of rain had fallen on the area in a twelve-hour period, and many people had escaped the rapidly rising water with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing. Understandably, they were anxious about the possessions, pets and neighbors they’d had to leave behind.
After he compassionately explained that it might be days before the people could leave this temporary shelter, Rick Smith asked, “Have any of you volunteers ever driven a Jeep?”
Amelia hadn’t seen Chase all morning, and she was startled when his voice sounded close behind her.
“I did, during my four-year stint in the army. I probably haven’t forgotten how.”
Amelia was surprised to learn that Chase had been in the army. That had apparently happened after they’d broken up.
Another man indicated that he’d once owned a Jeep, and Rick Smith said, “Good. We’ve borrowed a couple of Jeeps from the National Guard until we can get our rental vehicles, so you guys can drive them and scout out some of the isolated hollows today.” His gaze scanned the few volunteers.
“Amelia, I see you’re dressed for outdoor work, so you go with Chase, and…”
Stunned by this turn of events, Amelia didn’t hear the rest of the assignments. She could not spend the day alone with Chase! Her erratic heartbeat almost took her breath away, and she became more uncomfortable as her dismay increased.
Rick had moved on with the daily plans, not giving Amelia the opportunity to accept or reject the assignment.
When Chase appeared at her side, saying quietly, “This will be like old times,” Amelia knew it was too late to politely refuse. Were her steps destined to travel a path that would disrupt the even current of life she’d developed in the post-Chase era, as she always thought of the last fifteen years?
The eagerness in Chase’s clear gray eyes was disconcerting, and she forced herself to regard him dispassionately, as she might look at a stranger. Amelia considered the man facing her was a stranger. Very little that she’d noted in the short time they’d spent together yesterday had reminded her of the man who’d loved her, married her and disillusioned her so thoroughly that she had no interest in marrying again.
Chapter Three
Amelia decided to accept the inevitable. She wouldn’t be able to avoid contact with Chase, but she was determined to prevent him from hurting her again.
“While you load provisions in the Jeep, I’ll bring my laptop,” she said, praying that her casual tone would convince Chase that he was no more to her than a business acquaintance. Which was true, wasn’t it? “I can use the computer to record our findings,” she added.
Amelia went to her makeshift bedroom for the laptop and a hooded plastic parka, because more rain was predicted today. She filled a tote bag with personal items she might need.
Seated in a camouflaged Jeep, Chase waited in front of the church, and he handed her a white Disaster Relief vest with a red band around the bottom and a large red cross on the back. “We have to wear these all the time when we’re out on a volunteer mission.”
The Jeep didn’t have any doors, just a fabric roof, so Amelia climbed in beside Chase and adjusted the seat belt. She removed a woolen cloche from her tote and put it on her head. She pitched the tote into the back seat,