“Thundering Horses”
Chapter 5


About an hour later, Chris was in front of Jen’s house. Jen came running out the door calling back to her mom standing there looking out at Chris.

“Don’t wait up mom you know how we are if we get to racing.” Jen waves over her shoulder back at her mom.

“Hi Chris…” Jen’s mom calls out to her.

“Hi Linda…” Chris says waving out to her.

“Jen told me the Camaro was on the road. She looks really nice and sounds great.” Linda says.

“Thanks I think so too.” Chris says smiling ear to ear.

“Bye mom.” Jen says waving over the top of the Camaro after she got in the car.

“Bye girls be careful and have fun.” Linda says waving back at he girls as Chris drives off.

Chris looks over at Jen as she says, “SO I hear you have been running your mouth to Shell.”

“What are you talking about?” Jen says.

“Don’t play dumb Torque you know exactly what I am talking about.” Chris says.

Jen starts to laugh as she says, “Oh about Rain.”

“DUH!!” Chris says.

“I told her I was not for certain, but you sure act like you do.” Jen replies.

“Well let’s not talk about it any more. I like Rain as a friend and that is it. Guys get in the way when it comes to my cars.” Chris says.

“Yeah, but this guy is the first guy you would not have to worry about. When it comes to your cars he would be right there helping.” Jen says.

Chris shakes her head as she says, “It is not going to happen, so drop it.”

“If you say so.” Jen says.


After a few minutes Jen and Chris pull up at the commuter parking as everyone was sitting around talking and listening to their music. The Camaro caught everyone’s eyes the minute it passed by the lot on the road above the parking lot.

Jen hangs out the window waving at the group as Mike yells out, “Leave it to you two to be fashionable late.”

“AHH Hush Mike.” Jen says.

Chris pulls into the parking lot as the kids start to gather around the Camaro. Jen and Chris climb out as Keith, Jon, and Rain walk over to them along with the others from their group.

“Wow WS your Dad did a great job with the paint on the Camaro. Very Sharp, Very Sharp…” Rain says.

“Thank you Rain, our Dad takes great pride in his work.” Chris says.

“He also takes a great chunk of change in his paint jobs.” A kid said. Keith and Chris turn to see.

Danny and Dave walk up to them as Jen laughs saying, “Well you wanted that paint and the design Danny. LeRoy told you it was going to cost you out the butt to do this.”

“Yeah but he could have cut me a deal since we are all friends.” Danny says.

“He did cut you a deal dork. He did not charge you labor to paint the stupid car.” Jon says.

“You got the same deal we all get Danny.” Tim says, “You just choose to use the most expensive paint out on the market to paint your car. You’re as bad as Bruce and Ace.”

“Well we want our cars to look sharp.” Danny says.

“They need to be something because they are not fast.” Chris says smiling.

“All show and no go.” Charger says.

“You got a lot of room to talk Glen.” Dave says.

“Hey I never said I was out to win a race I am just here to have fun.” Glen replies.

“What is racing without a win?” Jason says.

Chris turns around seeing Jason standing on the other side of her Camaro as she says, “When did you get here I did not hear you pull in.”

“I was here already I was talking to a couple of guys. That came to see you today.” Jason says.

Chris rolls her eyes and turns around saying, “Jamie and Alex… So what did they have to say for themselves?”

“They said you were being yourself, like always.” Jason says walking around the Camaro to face Chris.

“He is good WS… I think you need to give him a shot.” Jason says standing in front of her now.

Chris shakes her head, “Has he beaten you or the others yet?” She says looking Jason in the eyes.

“He as made a few of the rounds and you know he cannot beat me. You know that Baby and the Grand National run equal in a race.” Jason says.

“What ever… Do not come to me with your boy until he has completed his rounds and beaten you. You know Baby can walk all over your Monte Carlo.” Chris says.

“Damn it WS you know it is a Grand National stop calling it a Monte Carlo.” Jason exclaims very annoyed that she called his car a Monte Carlo.

“Then stop putting your car in the ranks with Baby. The only reason you stuck with her that night was because Keith was driving her. When you faced me you lost by a full car length. Now when your boy walks the others and you… come see me, but until then I do not want to hear it.” Chris says.

“Then take me in the Camaro?” Jason says, “If you beat me I will back off until he walks me, but if I win you race him next weekend.”

Chris looks at Jason and laughs under her breath stepping toward the front of the Camaro causing her to turn away from Jason.

With her back turned away from Jason, she says nothing for a few minutes. Everyone was wondering if she was going to take the challenge as they waited for her to answer Jason.

Chris still turned away from them says, “No… It does not work that way and you know it. When he walks you, you know where to find me.”

“Your being a bitch Chris.” Jason says.

“I am being myself as you so pointed out a few minutes ago.” Chris says turning back and looking at Jason.

Jason chuckles as he runs his fingers through his soft brown hair he looks at Chris and smiles as he says, “Fine I will play it your way for now.”

“You will play it the way it has always been played or there will be no race.” Keith says.

Jason turns walking away from the group as he hears Jon says, “We will be watching you Jason so no lying your way out of this. We will know if this guy beats you or you are jerking our chain.”

Jason turns as he gives Jon a dirty look with a smirk on his face Jason turns back walking away.


“What a jerk for him to think he can bend the rules to get you to race this guy.” Rain says.

“That’s Jason he has always been that way.” Jen replies.

Chris still stands to the front of the Camaro with her back to everyone as she turns with a smile on her face the group was looking at her as they watched her smile fade from her face. The guys turn and Jen turn to see what she is looking at as they watch a tall cotton blonde guy walk toward them. This was a face they had never seen around the area or other racing areas as the guys stand in front of Chris to keep him back from her.

“You think that is him?” Mike asks Keith.

“I would have to say so since he was over there with Jamie and Alex.” Keith says.

The guy stops walking as he looks at the guys blocking his path to get to Chris as he hears. “Dylan is that you?!” Jen exclaims.

“You know this guy Torque?!” Jon questioned with a surprised tone.

Jen turns looking at Jon as she says, “He is older, but he still looks the same.”

Dylan looks at Jen and with a surprised look he replies, “Jen… Jenny is that really you?!” Dylan walks quickly toward Jen.

“Oh My God… Dylan… What have you been up to and when did you move back?” Jen says giving him a hug.

“I have been back for a few months I guess it as been about 5, 6 months now. We moved into the Florissant area.” Dylan tells her.

“Wow that’s cool, the last time we saw you we were all about what 10 I think it was.” Jen says.

Dylan laughs as he says, “Yeah, it was about that.” Dylan looks over at the guys as he adds, “They do not look to happy to see me.”

“Don’t worry about them Dylan they always look that way.” Jen says.

“Well I know a few of them like Keith, Timmy… Is that Mike and Jon and the one with the long hair who is he?” Dylan asks.

Jen laughs as she says, “That’s Glen…”

“What… your kidding right?!” Dylan says.

Just then, Emil comes tearing into the parking lot and slides the Nova into a parking place. He jumps out of the car and runs over to Keith as he says, “Man I hate work… Anything going on?”

“Nothing yet…” Keith says looking at Dylan.

Emil looks over at Jen and Dylan as Dylan says, “Oh My God Emil you will never change.”

Emil looks at Dylan as he says, “Who the hell are you?!”

“Dylan… Dylan Anderson.” Dylan says.

Emil narrows his eyes as he exclaims, “DA… Holy Shit check you out man. When you left here you where no taller then 4-foot and now look at you. You and Keith hit the height limits.”

Emil and Dylan shook hands as Emil turned around looking at the group Emil says, “Hey you guys remember Dylan right. He lived here about 7, 8 years ago we all went to school together.”

“So you into racing now Dylan?” Jon asks him politely, but not in a welcoming tone.

“Well yeah in Cali that is about all you can get into. Unless you want to deal drugs or try to become a Rock Star.” Dylan replies laughing.

“So you the new guy that wants to take me on?” Chris says pushing her way between Keith and Jon. Keith grabs Chris’ arm stopping her from walking farther toward Dylan. Chris shakes him off her as she walks toward Dylan.

Dylan narrows his eyes looking at Chris as he says in a shocked tone, “Christine… Your WS?!”

“The one and only.” Chris says in a cocky tone stopping in front of him.

“I was told you drove a Purple 69 Mustang that was untouchable.” Dylan replies.

“I do and it is…” Chris says still in her cocky tone.

“Man I hate when she is like this. You know there will be no living with her the rest of the night.” Mike whispers to Keith.

“I know that is why I tried to stop her.” Keith says.

“So where is it?” Dylan asks her.

“Somewhere close, but you will never see her.” Chris says, “You still have a long road to travel before you get close to her.”

“A little over confident aren’t we Christine?” Dylan asks her.

“I have every right to be Dylan. Baby and I climbed to the top one car at a time. Just like, you are going to do before you get a chance to race her. I do not care if you are the best in your area now. You have a 100 mile radius to cover just like we did.” Chris tells him turning and walking back to the Camaro.

“That will take me a year to do that.” Dylan exclaims.

“It took me 10 months to do it. You already have 5, 6 months behind you so look at it this way…” Chris pauses as she opens the door to the Camaro climbing in she closes the door and looks out at Dylan as she says, “You have 4 to 5 months left before you get to hit the road with me and my Baby.”

Chris starts the car as Jon looks at Keith as he says, “Man someone needs to go with her.” Before Keith and Jon knew it, Rain had jumped into the passenger’s seat in the Camaro. Chris looks at Rain and rips out of the parking lot.

“Umm… What just happened there?” Jon questioned Keith.

“I am not sure, but I hope Rain knows what he just got himself into. The Nine Ten train will be coming through in about 10 minutes.” Keith says.


After a few miles down the road Rain asks, “Where we going WS?”

“The Nine Ten will be coming through in about 8 minutes.” Chris replies.

“The Nine Ten?!” Rain questioned her in an uncomfortable tone and not sure if he wanted the answer.

“The Nine Ten Train.” Chris tells him.

“Umm… Chris??” Rain says a little unnerved as he quickly slides into his harness buckling it up.

Chris looks over at Rain as she laughs saying, “What Rain you scared?”

Rain looks at her his eyes wide saying, “You are in the Camaro.”

“Yeah… So… I know if and when we will make it or not.” Chris says looking back on the road.

Just then, the sound of the train’s whistle sounded as Chris floors the Camaro swinging it around the corner next to the tracks.

Rain was holding on to anything he could get a hold of to keep him in his seat. Chris looks at Rain as she says, “Relax Rain…It is a mile run from the first light there.” Chris points ahead of them as Rain sees a light for the tracks about a half a mile ahead of them Chris was running the Camaro at about 70 miles per hour as they move down the road in the Camaro.

Just then, the train comes barreling up beside them. Sounding its whistle again, Chris hits the gas as the Camaro jumps charging down the road.

“So how do you know if you will beat it or not?” Rain asks with his eyes glued to the road ahead of them.

Chris looks over at Rain as she chuckles looking back ahead of them she says, “The second crossing on this road if the rails are coming down by the time I pass over the tracks we will not make it across the tracks at the third crossing.”

“WHAT!! SO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME WE HAVE TO CROSS OVER THE TRACKS TWICE!!” Rain screams at her.

Chris laughs as she says, “Relax and enjoy the ride Rain it is the best rush you will ever get in your life.”

Chris shifts the Camaro as it picks up more speed Rain looks at the odometer on the dash as Chris was now reaching a speed of 100 plus, as they flew down the dark side road next to the train tracks.

Chris did not even touch the break or let off the gas as she pushed in the clutch and slid around the curve toward the first set of tracks. She lifts her foot from the clutch as the back tires grab, the Camaro jumped clearing the small hill the tracks where on. The Camaro landed on the other side as they slide around the curve on the other side shooting them down the road on the other side of the tracks. Rain looks behind them as he saw the train coming up on them.

“It is catching up WS.” Rain says.

Chris chuckles as she says, “It always does after the first set of tracks that was a major turn we went into. The straight away here we will pull ahead again.”

Rain turns looking back again as they start to pull away from the train once more. Rain looks at Chris as she speeds down the road and a look on her face of pure content as if she was in a world made only for her and her car.



Thundering Horses Chapter 6