“Thundering Horses”
Chapter 4


At lunchtime, Chris was out in the parking lot leaning against her Cougar with her hands behind her setting on the fender of the car she was thinking about what Mr. Bliss and the others talked about and what he said about the challenge coming from someone else. Chris turns around looking down onto the hood of her Cougar as she slowly glides her hand across the hood of it.

Chris smiles as she says aloud, “How in Gods name did I get so into cars? I swear I have oil and gas coursing through my veins instead of Blood.”

“Well I think that might be a little hard for you to still be alive if that were so, but you and your car do share a few things in common when it comes to life after you turn the key.” Chris turns seeing Rain walk toward her.

She smiles as she asks, “Yeah and what is that Rain?”

“You both need the right blood and oxygen mixture running through your system to work right.” Rain says.

Chris laughs as she says, “You have a point there.”

“You really love your cars don’t you WS?” Rain asks her.

“More then you will ever know Rain. I put a lot of sweat, blood, and time into my babies.” Chris says.

“Hey I helped too…” Jen says walking up to them.

Chris and Rain turn looking at Jen as Chris says, “Yes you have and if it would not have been for you Baby and the Camaro would have gotten a rag stuffed in the gas tank and blown to bits a couple of times.”

Rain starts to chuckle as he says, “It is hard to believe we can love something that can be such a pain in the ass sometimes.”

Chris turns looking at the Cougar and then over at Rain’s car as she says, “Well look at them how could you not love something as sleek and sexy as one of them.”

“Sis is referring to a girl when she says that.” Keith says walking up behind them.

“Yeah makes you kind of wonder about her.” Jon says.

Chris turns hitting Jon slightly in the chest with the back of her hand as she says, “You find me a man that can be that sleek and sexy and I will change the sex of my car, but I am sorry to say NO MAN I know could ever be as sexy as a woman.”

Jon rubbed his chest as he says, “Hey now what am I chopped liver?”

“Compared to my car…” Chris looked at Jon as she smiles saying, “Your sleek and sexy do not ever come close.”

“Wow now was that a chop to the Ego or what?” Rain replies.

Jon lowers his head messing around as he gets his pouty face going. Chris, Keith, and Jen laugh at what was said.

Chris walks over to Jon and rubs his back as she says in a playful tone, “Aww Jon you know I love you.”

“And I love you too WS that is why I always let you and Baby win.” Jon says jumping away from Chris.

“WHAT EVER!!” Chris exclaims as everyone standing there laughs.

“What’s so funny?” Charger asks walking out to the group.

“Jon told WS he always lets her win.” Jen says.

“HUH?! You let her win… What are you smoking Jon, because there is no way in hell The Stang is going to beat Baby.” Charger exclaims.

“I was joking Glen…” Jon replies.

Keith chuckles as he says, “I am ready to get out of here what do you all say?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Mike says walking out, “You coming with, Rain?” Mike nudges Rain in the arm as he stood next to him.

Rain looks at Mike as he says. “Man I would love to, but if my parents found out I skipped class. My racing days would be over, hell my life would be over!” Rain chuckled as Mike walked off to his IROC.

Keith looks out at Rain as he starts his car saying, “Well call me around seven, I should be home by then fighting Sis for the shower. I will let you know were we will be meeting tonight.”

Rain laughs as he nods in agreement with Keith waving as they all drive off to get ready for a night of screaming tires, roaring motors, and the fastest pace they could possible keep.


While in the car driving to the shop Chris looked off onto the road like she was in a daze.

“What are you thinking about WS?” Jen asks her.

“This race that those two punks came to me about.” Chris says.

“If it is bugging you that much then take Baby out and race them or who ever the challenge came from.” Jen says.

Chris looks over at Jen as she says, “Just like that, huh? Jen you know I do not take Baby up against anyone. I have to know what they are like behind the wheel of a car. I could be racing some idiot that could get me killed or hurt Baby. Not only that, you know the rules they have to climb to the top just like the rest of us did. I am not just going to let someone step over someone else to race me.”

“Then it sounds like they are just being an ass and trying to step over their bounds.” Jen says.

“Yeah and it is going to piss a few people off if they do not look out. If they cannot play by the rules for taking on the racers, what do you think they are going to be like on the street?” Chris replies.

“Yeah, your right I never thought of that, maybe you’re right in not taking the guy or person on.” Jen tells Chris.

“I know I am right, not only in that factor, but he or she will climb to the top just like the rest of us did. They are just not going to come straight to the source. That is not fair to everyone else that has busted their butts on their cars to get were their at. To have some jerk kick them to the curb on a race. Would you like that?” Chris asks Jen looking over at her.

Jen looks at Chris, as she says, “No I would not.”

“Then what makes you think the others would like it?” Chris replies.

“I didn’t think that Chris… I was just wondering why you did not want to race him or her.” Jen says.

“Well now you know why, Jen.” Chris tells her.

“Well then let’s drop it.” Jen says.

“I wish it was that easy. I have never had someone come after me to race when we were not out racing, let alone come to me at our own school. This guy or person has me bugged big time.” Chris says as she turns down the road the shop was on. Chris’s eyes light up as she saw her Camaro sitting out in the parking lot painted and ready to roll down the street.

“WOW…” Jen says, “Your Dad did an awesome job on her.”

Chris parks the Cougar as Keith, Jon and the others park around the Camaro. They all climb out of their cars walking toward the Camaro as Chris and Keith’s Dad walks out from the garage.

“What do you think Sis?” Her Dad asks her. Chris looks at her Dad as he was standing there with his hands in his pockets smiling at her.

“She is hot Daddy, Thank you sooo much. I love the rally strip effect you did on it.” Chris says.

“Oh WOW… Look, it has the rally strips on it, but you cannot see them when you are away from the car. That’s cool LeRoy how did you do that?” Mike asks him.

“It is all in the paint gun… It is called magic.” LeRoy says as he turns walking back into the shop. The group laughs as Mike stands there with a look on his face of disbelief.

“The keys are in it take it for a spin and show her off.” LeRoy tells Chris.

“Move your cars.” Chris tells everyone that was parked in the way of her getting out.

Jon runs to his car as he calls back to Chris, “Hold up I want to go with.”

“Me to Sis…” Keith says.

“Hey… That’s not fair that means I have to ride in the back.” Jen says in a disappointed tone.

“That’s right.” Keith says walking back up to the Camaro.

“That’s not fair I am her best friend.” Jen says lifting the seat to get in the back.

“My legs are too long to get back there with that roll bar and you know it Jen.” Keith says.

“Will you two quit ya bitchin’ and get in the car so we can go.” Chris says as she holds up the seat for Jon to get in on her side.

“Ok Keith is right this is a pain.” Jon says.

“Oh get in…” Chris says to Jon as he falls over the roll bar into the back seat.

“Well now you know why Sis does not have a boyfriend.” Keith says chuckling as he fastens his seat belt.

“Yeah why is that Bub?” Chris says doing the same thing, then starting the car and backing out of the parking lot.

“Because you do not have a backseat to make out in.” Jon says chuckling.

Chris looks at Jon in the rearview mirror as she gives him a smirk. She slides the car in to first gear and romps on the gas tearing down the road lighting up the tires. Jon forced into the backseat as he watches Chris swing the Camaro around the corner into the street as the back of the car swings out and then back in behind them the Camaro tearing down the road. Chris not missing a beat as she shifted getting a chirp from the tires in every new gear she shifted into.

“I think that was the wrong thing to say Jon.” Keith says.

Jen laughs as she says, “Just enjoy the ride and hush.” Chris tears off down the highway as she opens the Camaro up hitting 100 plus.

At a 130 Chris backed off the gas as Keith looked at her saying, “What’s up Sis?”

“You did not hear that Bub?” Chris says.

“I did and I am back here.” Jen says.

“Something is wrong.” Chris says shaking her head.

“She is not acting right.” Jon replies.

“Take her back to the shop Chris lets hook her up and see what is wrong.” Jen tells her. Chris gets off the highway and heads down the service road back to the shop as she guns the Camaro again to see if she could hear it once more.

“Sis slow down this road is too hilly and to curvy for this car. It is not the Cougar.” Keith exclaims.

Just then, the front end let out a loud pop. Chris backed off the gas as Keith yells, “PULL IT OVER NOW CHRIS!”

Chris pulls over to the side of the road as Keith gets out opening the hood. Chris gets out and looks under the car. Keith closes the hood as Chris stands up Keith is standing there with a wrench in his hand as he says,

“You got damn lucky. This could have gone into the radiator. That would have been a waist of 300 bucks.”

Chris walks up to Keith as she takes the wrench from him, looking at it and says, “This is Dad’s, he must have adjusted the hood.”

“I swear that old man is going to be the death of us one day.” Keith says laughing.

Chris shakes her head as they both climb back into the car Chris hands the wrench to Jen to hold on to as they head back down the road. Chris opening the Camaro back up to top speed once more.

Once back at the shop they all climb out Jen stands there as she looks over the Camaro at Chris she says, “Let’s pull her in and give her a good once over and a good tighten up.”

Chris looks at Jen with a confused look as Jen says, “You are taking the Camaro out tonight, right?”

Chris shrugs her shoulders as Jen then says, “If you take the Camaro out that guy that wants to race you will not know you are the driver of Baby. It might give you a chance to see how he drives without him bugging the piss out of you to race him tonight.”

“She has a good point there Sis.” Keith says.

“I guess so.” Chris says tossing the keys over to Jen, “Pull her in I need to go to the bathroom.”

Chris walks away going inside as Jen looks at Keith she says, “She has been acting weird all day, since Jamie and Alex came to the school.”

“She will pull out of it after tonight. If they show then it is their waist of time. Sis will not race unless they have made the rounds.” Keith says walking inside as well.

Jen stands there with the Camaro as she looks at the car she touches the top of it as she says, “For your sake I hope so.” Jen climbs in the car starting it and pulling it in the shop.

Hours later Keith and Chris were back home getting ready to go out for the night. Chris was in her room sitting on her bed talking to Shelly on the phone as Keith walked by her room from just getting out of the shower. Keith turns around after passing her room as he looks in drying his hair with only a pair of jeans on and a towel over his head.

“Hey Rain is going to be calling soon so listen for him to beep in.” Keith says turning and walking away.

“What was that?” Shelly says, “Who is Rain?”

“A new kid at the school he started the day you were not there.” Chris tells her, “You need to hurry and get better so you can get back. Hell we only have two weeks of school left and we are out for summer.” Chris says.

“Next year will be our last year. Wow how cool is that?” Shelly says.

“Tell me about it.” Chris says.

“So tell me what does this Rain guy look like?” Shelly says.

“Well he looks like a normal guy.” Chris says.

“Come on WS spill it, is he cute?” Shelly asks.

“Yeah he is good looking. He is around 6’ he has brown eyes and short spiky brown hair. He has a good stout build to him; he will be added to the hotty list at school if he has not already made it there. The girls at school already woo him.” Chris says chuckling.

“What’s so funny?” Shelly asks her.

“Well Rain is into Street racing. I do not think he is really into the chick scene and all these stupid girls are chasing after him.” Chris says.

“What Ever… He is a guy… He is eating it up with all the girls chasing after him.” Shelly says.

“Yeah, well let’s just hope he lands a good one and not some bitch that gets on my nerves.” Chris says slightly annoyed.

Shelly laughs as she says, “Jen is right… you do like him.”

“WHAT?! Jen told you I liked Rain… I swear I am going to give her a piece of my mind tonight when I go pick her up. WAIT A MINUTE… I thought you did not know who Rain was?!” Chris exclaims.

Shelly laughs harder as she says, “I don’t, I have only heard of him from Jen and you. I thought I would play it off and see what you had to say about him to see if Jen is right.”

“I swear you two are a pain in my…”

Just then, a beep from another call coming in cut Chris off as the phone went back to Shelly Chris says, “That is probably Rain Shell; I will talk to you later.”

“Have fun tonight and drive safe.” Shelly says.

“Always do…” Chris says, “Later…”

“Later…” Shelly says as Chris clicks over to the other call coming in.

“Hello…” Chris says.

“Hey Chris, Keith there?” Rain says from the other end.

“Yep one sec…” Chris says taking the phone from her ear and yelling, “BUB PHONE IT IS RAIN!”

Keith picks up the other phone in his room as he says, “Yeeessss…” Chris hangs up the phone on her end as she stands from the bed to get dressed for the night.

Thundering Horses Chapter 5