“Thundering Horses”
Chapter 6


Rain turns back looking at the train as it draws closer to the Camaro, Rain feels the Camaro speed up as he asks, “Is the train speeding up?!”

“Yes it is…” Chris says watching the road ahead of them, “It is getting closer to being out of town. Where we met the train was a speed up point for it. In town, they are only allowed to hit speeds of 35 to 40 miles an hour. Once out of town they are allowed to speed up to 80 and 90 miles an hour. They have been out of town now for their last 3 miles.”

“So how fast will the train be going when we cross over the last set of tracks?” Rain asks her.

“They should be hitting about 85 when we cross over. Pushing us to hit about 100 plus.” Chris tells Rain looking in the rearview mirror.

Rain looks ahead of them as he asks, “Is that where we cross?”

“Yep, another quarter mile.” Chris says.

“The trains too close Chris we will never make it.” Rain exclaims.

Chris smiles as she down shifts the car taking it into the curve Chris hangs tight to the corner as she lets off the gas slightly. In a blink of an eye, the car straightens out and Chris gives it more gas. The Camaro shoots down the road toward the tracks as the train draws closer. Rain looks at Chris she is as calm as if she was sitting in class.

Rain sees the trains light getting closer to them as he closes his eyes. Chris heard him say in a calming tone, “I am going to die.”

Rain hears Chris laugh as he feels the Camaro cross over the tracks and the Camaro squealing around the corner on the other side. Rain feels the Camaro start to slow down as he hears the whistle of the train sound again, as it flies past them on the tracks headed out of town. Rain looks at the train then turns looking at Chris.

“We beat it by a good 4 to 5 seconds.” Chris says looking at him, “We need to do some adjustments to her. The Cougar has the train beat by 7 to 8 seconds.”

“What… You mean we went over the tracks 4 to 5 seconds before the train crossed them?” Rain exclaimed, “If the Cougar crosses over 7 to 8 seconds before the train what can Baby do?”

“She is over them 14 to 15 seconds before the train crosses them.” Chris tells him causally driving down the road as if nothing happened.

“How can you be so calm?!” Rain exclaims.

“How can you be so wound up? You had your eyes closed on the most exciting part of the ride.” Chris tells him laughing.

“I… Well… You had me scared to death.” Rain says. Chris laughs harder as a huge smile comes across her face she looks over at Rain as he to starts to laugh.

“There is a Stake and Shake down here want to stop and get something to drink?” Chris asks Rain.

Rain looks at Chris as she says, “My treat for you being such a good sport in that run with the train. Ninety-nine present of the people I take on that run freak out, even my Brother and Jon.” Chris pauses looking at Rain as their eyes meet Chris smiles bigger as she says, “You did well Young Grasshopper…”

Rain shakes his head laughing as he says, “Your all crazy… You know that?”

Chris nods in agreement to him as she says, “Then it is a date Stake and Shake here we come.” Chris floors the Camaro as they take off down the road once more. Laughing at the amazing ride they both just took in the Camaro.


Once at Stake and Shake Rain and Chris go inside waiting to be seated at a table. When they finally get to a table, Rain sits across form Chris.

“Hello my name is Tracey and I will be your server tonight. Would you like something to drink?” She asks them.

“Yeah, I would like a Dr Pepper.” Rain tells her.

“Same here please.” Chris replies. Their server nods walking away from the table.

“I thought you were a Pepsi drinker?” Rain asks Chris looking at her.

“I am, but they do not have Pepsi it is all Coke products, so I drink DP.” Chris says.

“That will work.” Rain says smiling at her.

“So Rain the truth…” Chris says.

Rain gives Chris a confused look as he says, “HUH… The truth… About what?”

“Well you moved here from umm… Oregon, right?” Chris asks him Rain nods as she says, “So what do you think of good old Missouri and the kids here?”

“Well for the ones I have met so far they all seem pretty cool, but the ones I hang out with… Well they are just crazy.” Rain says laughing.

“Would you want us any other way?” Chris asks him.

Rain laughs, as he looks Chris in the eyes he smiles as he says, “No I have to say I am very happy with the group I got hooked up with.”

Chris smiles looking away from Rain out the window next to her, she looks back at him as she says, “That’s good, because I think I… WE… WE will keep you around for a while.” Chris blushes slightly as Rain chuckles looking at her.

“Stumbling on your words there a little WS?” Rain asks her.

“A little…” Chris says, “I guess I just have that jerk on my mind that wants to race Baby.”

“Dylan… Yeah, him and that guy Jason was being a little over baring tonight.” Rain says.

“I still cannot remember him. Jen and Emil must have hung out with him more then us.” Chris replies.

“Looks that way they remembered him before the others.” Rain tells her.

Just then, Tracey their server walked up with their drinks sitting them on the table.

“Thank you…” Chris replies.

Rain nods at her in a thanking gesture as she says, “Are you ready to order?”

“No we really have not looked… sorry.” Rain says.

“That’s fine I will come back.” She tells them. Chris and Rain nod as she walks away again.

Rain looks over at Chris as she is looking at him.

Rain smiles at her as he asks, “So how did you get so into cars Chris?” Chris smiles looking out the window as she sees some of the cars race by going to 370 to race.

“My Dad… He has worked on cars since before I was born. I use to hang out in the garage with him when I was only knee high to a grasshopper. I remember when I was 5 going to the track with him and my Mom. It was so awesome to watch those cars zooming around the track.”

Rain chuckles at Chris and her chose of words as she remembers the time she was younger. “I guess my Dad being part of a pit crew and my Mom going with while she was pregnant with me.” Chris pauses as she looks at Rain.

He had not taken his eyes from her while she was talking to him she smiles becoming uncomfortable and looks back out the window, she continues looking back at Rain occasionally trying to avoid eye contact with him.

“I guess you could say I was born with racing in my blood. My real love for cars came when my Dad got his hands on a 64 and a half Barracuda. She was Purple and looked so sharp, black interior, the first year of the Hemi motor for that car, she was a beast.”

“I bet…” Rain replies, Chris looks Rain in the eyes as she smiles.

“So then why do you like Mustangs so much?” Rain asks her.

“Oh that’s an easy one.” Chris says chuckling, “It is the body style of her. She is so sleek and sexy, but still when you look at her she is pure muscle. You can see the beast trying to climb out of her. The 69 Mustang to me is a cross between Heaven and Hell.”

“HUH?” Rain asks confused.

Chris laughs as she says, “Well when she is sitting there quite with just her looks, she is heaven her beauty glows all the way down to her tires.” Chris looks at Rain as he is smiling and he nods, Chris continues, “But when you start her, that beast that they keep locked in the pits of Hell climbs out from it depths and right under her hood and no body wants to mess with her.”

Rain chuckles as he says, “I love the way you look at you cars. You make them sound alive.”

“To me they are… I have made cars so much of my life I find myself talking to them.” Chris says.

Rain laughs as he says, “I cuss at my cars when they will not do what I want them to do.”

Chris smiles chuckling under her breath as she says, “Oh I have done my share of that.”

“I think we all have.” Rain replies taking a drink of his soda.

“So what about you Rain… How did you get into cars?” Chris asks him.

Rain smiles looking at Chris as he says, “Well mine is not as interesting as yours. My buddy in Oregon got me into cars; I was already driving before I really got into them.”

“So did your friend work on them or just race them?” Chris asks.

“Both… He taught me everything I know…” Rain slightly tilts his head as he finishes saying, “Which was not much before we left, but I do know my Alice and her ins and outs. As for other cars I am a little lost.”

“That’s cool… No big deal either, hanging with us we will cram your head with so much info on any and every kind of car you will beg us to stop.” Chris replies taking a drink.

Rain chuckles as he says, “That’s cool you will find I learn really quickly and hold information to memory.”

“That’s good because you will be dealing with more then just Alice in this group. We all pitch in and help get the cars running in top shape. After all we are a team and one bad race can make us all look bad.” Chris says.

“So what about Glen? I heard him say something about he is not looking to win only out to have fun.” Rain says.

“Charger is like the hook and bait guy. For the new racers out there” Chris says.

“HUH?!” Rain says.

“Well everyone knows he is part of our team and you know to race the best you have to beat the others first. Therefore, they race everyone on the team, Glen being the first they take on. He pooches out and they think the rest of the team is a cake walk.” Chris tells him.

“But Baby is known for miles as the fastest Mustang to hit the streets.” Rain says.

“Yes she is… All the top drivers are known in their teams, just like Jason, Bruce, Jeff, Tom, and Darryl. They all became top of their teams and then us 6 all race for the top car in the grater St. Louis area. Jeff’s Maverick is the only car that has tied with Baby; on the tiebreaker, I beat him. Which has made Baby and me the top driver in the St. Louis area.” Chris tells him.

“So do they ever run again to try and beat you to get your title?” Rain asks her.

“Oh yeah, Jeff came after me about 3 weeks ago.” Chris says, “He was so mad because I beat him again and he had worked on the Mav all spring to beat me and I had not touched Baby and still walked him. Not by much but I still beat him.”

“So is there a car out there that worries you about taking your title.” Rain asks her.

“I have to say out of every car I have ever raced there are only 3 that worry me.” Chris says.

“Well I know the Maverick is one.” Rain says. Chris nods as Rain asks, “Who is the other ones?”

“Keith and Jason…” Chris says.

“But Keith is on the team that is still good, right? I mean it is still part of the group.” Rain asks her.

“Yes Keith would be no big deal, Keith has beaten Baby a few times, but to beat me the right way he has to beat all the others under me.” Chris tells Rain.

“And he cannot.” Rain says slightly disappointed.

“Yeah…” Chris replies in the same tone, “Keith and Jeff are old friends and I am not sure if they get out there goofing off or they are really racing, but Jeff always gets Keith right at the finish.”

“Ride with him.” Rain says.

Chris shakes her head quickly as she says, “That’s a No, No we ride alone in a race, Number one rule around here. What we do is dangerous enough we have two lives on the line already there is no way we will take someone else’s life in our hands even though they know what could happen. I could not live with myself knowing I killed a good friend if I lived through it and they did not.”

“That’s a good rule to live by.” Rain says.

Chris nods as she tells Rain, “In two weeks the racing season will kick off big around here. We will not only have the street racing to deal with, but MRA, Car Shows, NOPI, and the Street Wars at the end of summer.”

“Street Wars, MRA and NOPI?!” Rain questioned.

“MRA is Missouri Racing Association it is a quarter mile bracket race. Like a test and tune type thing for the street racers. They do competitions like the longest burnouts, fastest hole shot, and the best in their bracket. They even have a Power Puff race for the girls that like to race, but not very big into it like Jen and me. They have a Jr. Drag for the little ones; it is really a lot of fun. NOPI is a parts shop out of Atlanta, Georgia that sponsors this event it is held in different states each year. From what we have heard, it is going to be held in Missouri this year. There are different categories you can be in such as burn out, best stereo system, fastest quarter mile, best paint job, ect… ect… if it has to do with a car they have it there. The one contest the guys really get into is the contest each year for the NOPI Chic’s. They get to vote for the hottest chic and then if she wins she gets her pic with all the winners with their cars for the coming year calendar.” Chris tells him.

“Sounds fun.” Rain replies.

“It is… Street Wars are a completely new Ballgame. That is where we get to play with the big boys from all around the Missouri area. They race, they show, it is NOS, top fuel and Drag.” Chris says.

“WOW…” Rain says.

“There are no Pro’s that run it we are all amateurs. We get there, run a time check, and qualify and they break us down in class and brackets. They never put you up against a losing race; you are always with people in your class.” Chris says.

“Now that is something that would be a blast.” Rain says.

“It cost plenty to get in and camp out to play for 5 days.” Chris says, “It cost me and Bub 5 bills a piece to be there last year.”

“Wow that might be something I will have to pass on. Cash like that does not come easy to me.” Rain says.

Chris laughs as she says, “Why do you think me and Bub both work and every cent we make we save. As long as there is, not trouble with your car your safe, but you get a problem and a major one you had better have the cash to get it fixed or your stuck there. We both took a thousand a piece just in case and we both came back with 5 bills in the end, plus our winnings from the races.”

“Well that is good, but I still do not think I could go this year. Summer is getting ready to start and I do not even have a job yet.” Rain says.

Chris smiles at him as she says, “Maybe not you and Alice, but you riding along with someone else… you could swing it. Jen goes every year and the last year she raced, when she was not racing, it only cost her a couple hundred to go.”

“Well that might work. Go and just hang out, but I could not leave Alice behind she is my girl.” Rain says.

Chris laughs as she says, “I understand… Well you could show her.”

“Maybe… We will have to see what happens the closer it gets.” Rain says.

Chris nods as she says, “Where there’s a will there’s a way…” Rain laughed as they sat there and talked some more. About the summer and what it would bring for all of them.


About an hour later, Keith and Jen walk in the door to Stake and Shake walking over to their table. Jen slides in next to Chris as Keith sits next to Rain.

“We are going to need a bigger table the others will be here soon and glad to see you are still with us.” Keith says patting Rain on the back.

“So how did she do?” Jen asks Chris looking at Rain’s face for any signs of freaking out over what he lived through.

“She crossed 4 to 5 seconds before the train.” Chris says taking a drink of her soda.

“4 to 5 seconds you were barely head of the train then.” Jen exclaims.

“Yeah…” Chris says calmly.

“The Cougar beats it by 7 to 8 seconds, right?” Keith asks.

“Yeah…” Chris says taking another drink.

“How does she stay so calm?” Rain asks, “I was freaking out the whole ride.”

“She has been doing this for year’s dude.” Keith says, “It is like second nature to her.”

“Did you scream and yell like a little girl Rain?” Jen asks laughing.

“No he did not pull a Jon.” Chris says.

Rain started laughing as he says, “Jon screamed and yelled like a little girl?”

Chris and Jen nodded as Keith says, “Hey I was not much better.”

“The only time you screamed Bub was when I stopped on the tracks to look down them to see how far the train was back from us.” Chris says.

“That freaked me out when she stopped.” Keith tells him.

“She stopped on the track and looked for the train?!” Rain exclaimed.

Keith looks at Rain as he exclaimed, “Yes she did…”

Rain looked at Chris as he told her smiling,” You’re crazy…”

“Thank you…” Chris tells him laughing. “We all got to die someday…” Chris was saying as Jen, Keith, and Rain joined in saying with her, “Might as well be doing what we love to do when we bite the bullet.” They all start to laugh as the server walks up to them.

“You guys ready to order?”

Keith looks up at her as he says, “Yeah I want a cute little red head about five four green eyes and slender. She has to like cars and getting greasy.” The girl started to chuckle as Keith adds, “Oh and she has to be a good kisser.”

“Sorry sir I do not think we have any left.” The girl says still chuckling.

Keith looks at Chris and says, “Hey she is the first that followed through with that line, I think I like her.”

Chris shakes her head as she looks at the girl, “Excuse my brother he is a dork. We are going to need more time we have more people meeting us here in a few minutes.”

“Ok then I will be back when I see them come in.” The girl says, “Oh my name is Tracey I will be serving you tonight.”

She turns walking away as Keith says, “I wish you were… Grrr.”

“WHISTLE!” Jen exclaims.

Chris reaches into her glass of ice water taking out a few ice cubes and chunks them at Keith as she says, “You’re a perv Bub.”

Keith is laughing as Rain is laughing to he says, “I can tell you all are really close. That’s good it makes for a good team.”

“We got your back race or no race. You become part of our team your family.” Keith says.

“I think I am going to like running with you guys. This summer proves to be the best one I have ever had.” Rain says.

“Yeah and that is only two weeks away… WOOOHOOO!!” Jen exclaims.

Just then, they heard the others start pulling up outside Chris looks out the window that she was sitting next to as, Trigger’s white Impala drives by followed by Charger and then Little Red Roc. High Roller brings up the end with Emil as his passenger as they all park and head inside.



Thundering Horses Chapter 7