Secret Agent Minister by Lenora Worth Page B

makeover and some complimentary samples.” She giggled. “Suga’, this woman has made a fortune with Mary Kay. She’s legendary around these parts.”
    “Do you drive a pink Cadillac?” Lydia asked, fascinated with these prim, overdressed, overperfumed women. Rita looked young in spite of her shimmering white, precisely clipped hair.
    “Of course,” Rita said with a dismissive shrug. “I’m on about my tenth one, I believe.”
    Remembering her first foray into being a diva in New Orleans, Lydia held up a hand. “I don’t want anything too over the top. I just want to be clean and natural.”
    “We can do clean and natural,” Rita said, her bright green eyes twinkling. “In fact, we have a whole line of products that’ll give you the natural look.”
    Lydia wondered why she had to put on makeup to look natural, but she didn’t argue. She was too dirty and tired to refuse the kindness of strangers, after all.
    They stood Lydia in front of a massive, intricately carved door. Lulu gave the other two a wink, then said, “Now, Miss Lydia, this is your room. You’re safe here. My husband, Alfred, hired the best security firm in Texas to make sure we are always safe here. If you open the door out onto the porch, an alarm will sound. So don’t do that just yet, unless you have to escape right quick like. The Pastoral gave us strict orders to keep you inside unless he himself can escort you out for some fresh air. No one else. Just him. He wants to protect you. Do you understand, darlin’?”
    Lydia did understand. She nodded, but couldn’t manage to speak. She was just too tired to be mad at Pastor Dev’s commando mode right now. “Thank you,” she said.
    “Let’s pray,” Lulu suggested, grabbing Lydia’s hands in hers. The other women gathered in a protective circle around Lydia, then closed their eyes. Lydia stood silent as each one prayed for her safety.
    “Lord, help our men find the ones behind this horrible situation. Bring them to a swift and fitting justice.”
    “And Lord, help this poor girl find some rest here in one of your safe pavilions. Protect our CHAIM warriors.”
    “Also, Lord, help us to help Lydia understand…about CHAIM and about…masks…and about men, too, I reckon.”
    “Amen.” Lulu looked across at Rita. “Was that mask part really necessary?”
    “I figured it couldn’t hurt. A girl has to know how to look her best in any situation—and she is undercover.”
    With that, Lulu gave Lydia a quick hug. “Go on in. You’ll be safe and you’ll have complete privacy.”
    After the women brought her the softest robe she’d ever felt, Rita slapped something white and scented on her face, telling her to let it set for about ten minutes, then to rinse and pat her face gently.
    “We’ll send in some coffee and muffins for now, then we’ll come back after your nap to get you up and ready for an early dinner out on the back patio.”
    “When will I see Pastor Dev again?” Lydia asked, wondering if she would ever see him. Had he abandoned her here, locked in a big, sprawling house with these matronly “What Not To Wear” experts?
    Lulu glanced over to Sally Mae and Rita, her carefully etched eyebrows lifting. “You’ll see him soon, honey. Meantime, we three might need to sit you down and explain what being in love with a CHAIM man involves.”
    Mortified, Lydia tried to hide her embarrassment. “But—”
    Sally Mae patted her arm. “No buts about it, honey. We know love when we see it. After all, we’ve each been there. It’s not easy to love a warrior, but it can be done.”
    “Does it show that much?” Lydia asked.
    “Only when you take a breath,” Rita replied, her eyes full of understanding.
    Then the ladies had fluttered out like three butterflies, with waving hands and soft sighs and whispers.
    So now here Lydia sat, on a brocade chaise lounge, with a mask drying over her features, wondering if Pastor Dev had a clue that she loved him. If everyone else