Great Bicycle Race Mystery Read Free

pickup truck, and a station wagon.
    Then a long black car pulled up to the curb. The window hummed down and a thin-faced man peered out from the driver’s side of the car.
    “How sweet,” said the man. “But do you really think your little car wash is going to prevent people from taking Eagle Mountain to its full financial and developmental potential?”
    “Well ...” said Benny. He wasn’t sure what the man had just said.
    The man jerked his head in the direction of the bicycles propped against the front porch of the Aldens’ house. “And I suppose those are the vehicles you plan to use in this bike race that’s being talked about?”
    “Those are our bikes,” said Benny.
    “We may not finish first, but every little bit helps,” Jessie put in cheerfully. “Would you like us to wash your car?”
    The man seemed to shudder as he answered, “I don’t think so.”
    From the backseat, a woman leaned forward. The Aldens caught a glimpse of smartly cut brown hair streaked with blond and gray, and a pair of half glasses perched on the end of an upturned nose. “Ronald, that will do,” the woman said.

    “You don’t want to make a donation, either?” Soo Lee asked.
    The man called Ronald gave a snort. “Certainly not,” he snapped. “Although it looks as if you could use one for those pathetic machines you call bicycles.”
    “That’s enough. Drive on,” the woman’s voice commanded and she leaned back, disappearing from view.
    “Yes, Ms. Whatney,” Ronald said.
    He rolled up the window and the car purred away.
    “Ms. Whatney!” exclaimed Jessie, staring after the car. “So that’s the developer who is trying to buy Eagle Mountain.”
    “And that man named Ronald must be her chauffeur,” said Henry.
    Violet said, “I guess she’s very, very rich. She can probably pay lots of money for Eagle Mountain. How can we ever raise enough to stop her?”
    She sounded unhappy. Henry patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Violet. She’s only one person and there are lots and lots of us who are raising money. And if we can show how many people want the mountain saved, the governor might help, too. We’ll be able to do it.”
    “I hope so,” said Violet.
    Just then, another car pulled up to the car wash, and the Aldens had to get back to work.
    At the end of the day, they sat, tired and content, on the front steps of the house. “We can work on raising more money tomorrow,” said Henry. “Maybe we can ride over to Silver City and see if we can get some donations there.”
    “That’ll be fun. But I have to go home now,” said Soo Lee. “I’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning to help.”
    The Aldens worked hard for the next few weeks raising money and practicing for the ride. In the mornings they would ride their bikes, going farther and farther each day to get used to riding long distances.
    Grandfather rented a bicycle from Greenfield Wheels and practiced with them often. Sometimes Soo Lee, Aunt Alice, and Uncle Joe came along, too. Jessie put a special basket on the back of her bicycle so even Watch could come along. His legs were too short for him to run alongside during the long bike rides.
    In the afternoons, the Aldens collected donations and held car washes and did chores for people in the neighborhood. They walked dogs and pulled weeds. They watered plants for people who went on vacation. They spent two days cleaning out a garage for a family that was moving.
    Finally, two days before the race began, they sat on the front porch to count their money. “We did it!” said Jessie. “We have enough money for all of us, even Grandfather: entrance fees and one dollar per mile each.”
    Soo Lee sighed with relief. “Good. I was beginning to get worried.”
    “I knew we’d make it,” Benny boasted.
    “We even have a little extra,” Jessie went on.
    “The more money we have to help save Eagle Mountain, the better,” said Violet.
    Henry stood up. “Let’s put the money away and go do