An extract from ... Mystery at Dead Man's Ridge, by Mandy Edwards.

“Blast,” said Tom. “Quick, I’ll be grounded for a month if we don’t get home before Mum and Dad.”
“So what?” scoffed Maggie. “You don’t have any social life anyway!” But nevertheless she reached her bike first, swung her leg over the bar and took off, with Tom in hot pursuit. She was in the bad books already with Uncle Ted, and she didn’t want to have her name heading up yet another page!
They were two kilometres into their ride when they heard the shots.
Maggie slammed on her brakes, and Tom, who had been following close behind, crashed into her back tyre. Maggie’s wheel spun out behind her, and she somersaulted over her handle bars, and flew into the ditch. Her bike fell on top of her. And there she lay, moaning; completely unable to move!

Shots in the Night

Tom regained control of his bike, as he watched his cousin’s spectacular fall. He leapt off his seat, and almost got tangled in his own bike spokes, in his haste to reach her.
“Jeez Mags, are you okay?” Tom carefully lifted the bike off her and tossed it to one side. He let out his breath in relief as Maggie groaned and struggled to sit up. She fingered the huge rip in her jeans and winced as the blood dripped slowly down her leg. Both her elbows were grazed and she had a small bump appearing on her forehead.
“Thank god you were wearing a helmet,” said Tom. “You could have knocked all the sense out of you!”
“Shut up!” Maggie snapped. “My jeans are ruined!” Just then, another shot rang out and both children ducked. Tom scanned the darkness and could just make out the pinprick of light way in the distance.
“Hey someone’s out hunting on the McGregors’ farm. Do you think …?” But Maggie was trembling with shock, in no condition to think. Tom took one look at her white face and wondered what on earth he was going to do. The front wheel of her bike was knackered; several spokes had broken and the back tyre was punctured.
“Jeez, you sure know how to wreck a bike,” he teased. “Let’s heave it into the bushes, and you can ride on the back of mine. Are you up for it?” Maggie nodded wearily and climbed on behind Tom. It was obvious her knee hurt like hell, but she said nothing. Tom gave her an admiring look. Maggie sure had guts, even if she was a girl!

Read Mystery at Dead Man's Ridge ... and find out who fired those shots ... and why! http://amzn.to/149v0A4