Edith Longley walked the eight blocks from the convenience store to her home in Twentynine Palms. Rivulets of water ran down her temples and her hair was damp. She"d worn a three-quarter length sleeve blouse to hide the bruises on her arms. Ed had shaken her this morning when he discovered the fridge did not contain his favorite beer.
“The oleanders need trimming. There"d better be a cold beer in there in one hour.”
Edith had quickly dressed and ran to the store. After forty-seven years of marriage to Ed, she was unable to defy him, but then she never had. She"d meant to be up earlier, but had stayed up late to watch the show on television. Edith loved the quiet house when Ed was gone carousing and the television was hers. She could watch all the crime shows she wanted. If she had learne
