The Garden Thief Read Online Free Page B

the best and freshest vegetables like cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, chard, carrots, beans, and peas.”
    “Wow,” said Benny. “Rabbits like a lot of different foods.”
    Jessie noticed an apron hanging from the end of the cages. The apron had many pockets, and a carrot was sticking out of one of the pockets. There was a large green trash bag next to the apron.
    “Is that where you keep the vegetables?” she asked, pointing to the apron.
    Lucasta frowned.
    “No,” said Alex as he pulled the apron and trash bag from the wall and rolled them up. He put them on top of the rabbit cages. “That’s just an old cobbler’s apron.”
    Alex handed the carrot that had been in the apron to Lucasta and she fed it to the rabbit she was holding.
    “I used to feed my rabbits all the vegetables I grew,” she said, “but when Mr. Yee broke my leg, I couldn’t garden this year.”
    “I did not break your leg!” shouted Mr. Yee. “Your rabbits ran in front of my bicycle and made me break my arm!”
    “I can grow all the vegetables Lucasta needs,” said Alex.
    “I deserve all of my blue ribbons,” said Lucasta.
    Taylor Harris sighed. “I deserve blue ribbons, too. I’m going back to my garden, and I better never see one of your rabbits inside it,” she said.
    Taylor left.
    “This is too bad,” said Roger Walski.
    Henry looked at him in surprise. The entire time they had been in the barn, Roger hadn’t said anything.
    “It just goes to show that we should move the community gardens some place else. Away from vandals, away from thieves, and even away from these prize-winning rabbits.”
    Roger followed Taylor out the wide barn doors. “My cucumbers need my attention,” he said as he left.
    “We are leaving, also,” said Mr. Yee. “I don’t like rabbits.”
    The Aldens followed him out the door.
    As the five of them walked back to Mr. Yee’s plot, they talked.
    “I like the rabbits,” said Benny.
    “Me, too,” said Violet. “And they didn’t eat Taylor’s lettuce and kale, because rabbits can’t open garden gates.”
    “And rabbits don’t pull plants out of the ground,” said Henry. “Instead, they nibble the leaves.”
    The Aldens looked at one another. Something strange was definitely happening at the community garden.

CHAPTER 5
Bags of Lettuce and Kale
    Early the next morning Mrs. McGregor handed each of the children a thermal lunch bag.
    “There are scrambled egg sandwiches for each of you,” she said. “Plus a can of juice and an orange.”
    Just then Mr. Yee knocked on the back door.
    “Is everybody ready?” he asked.
    “We’re ready,” said Henry, stifling a yawn.
    “Here is a lunch bag for you, Mr. Yee,” said Mrs. McGregor. “Scrambled egg sandwiches.”
    “Thank you,” said Mr. Yee. “You are most generous. I will be sure to repay you with excellent vegetables.”
    Mrs. McGregor drove them all to the community gardens. Henry and Jessie talked to Mr. Yee, but Violet and Benny closed their eyes and fell asleep. When Mrs. McGregor stopped the car at the community gardens, Violet and Benny woke up.
    “Are we there?” Benny asked.
    “Yes,” said Mr. Yee. “We will eat our breakfasts first, then we will tend to the garden.”
    Mrs. McGregor drove away and the children walked the short distance to the community gardens. They waved to other gardeners in Sections D and E, and also Sections B and C.
    When they reached Section A, they saw Taylor’s bike chained to her garden fence. Taylor was standing beside the bike. The gate to her garden was open. Henry thought that Taylor looked confused.
    “Is anything wrong?” Henry asked as they walked up to her.
    “I don’t know,” answered Taylor. “Can I show you something?”
    Henry said yes, and Taylor led everybody into her garden. They followed her down a few rows. Taylor stopped and pointed to two large burlap bags sitting on the ground, right next to the spot where the lettuce and kale had been growing.
    “Those were here when I