Heart of Thunder 3
The girls were still looking stunned as Michael put Thunder's lead on him.
"How?" Was all Stevie could finally say. "No Horse let alone a human should be able to run that fast!"
"Well 2 years ago, my father found Thunder here half dead. His first owner was a mean drunk who nearly killed him in a drunken rage one night. My Father had the guy arrested then took Thunder and rebuilt him with Bionic legs a bionic eye and a reinforced skeleton. So basically, he's a super horse. he can see like a hawk day or night with that bionic eye and with those bionic legs he can do 80 mph at a trot when he wants to."
"But you were just as fast," said Lisa, "so I'm guessing you have bionic legs too."
Michael nodded.
"A year after Thunder came into our lives, I was in a terrible car accident. I was half dead myself. My father made me bionic to save my life. And if you're wondering what parts are bionic, well you already know both legs. But also, my right arm, Right eye, and my right ear."
"Wow." Said Carole, "That's incredible I never would have guessed."
"Yeah," said Stevie, Putting her hand on Michaels right arm. "It feels just like a regular arm."
"That's because it's supposed to." Chuckled Michael, "my bionics are so advanced that they feel normal to me too. The difference is I can't feel pain in them. And the reinforcement to our skeletons makes Thunder and me extra tough!"
"You're so lucky to have a dad that could help you like that." Said Lisa
"I know." Said Michael, "But listen, you have to keep all of this a secret. There are too many people in this world that do not under any circumstances need the power that bionics give you!"
The girls nodded in understanding.
"Don't worry," said Carole, "Your secret is safe with us."
"Thanks," said Michael then he turned and led Thunder back to his stall.
The next morning Veronica came strolling through the stables making a big show of the fact she was wearing yet another new riding outfit complete with a color coordinated riding crop!
She had just met up with Kristi when she spotted Thunder in his stall munching his sweet feed.
"I've got to ride that horse," she said
"But That's not your horse," said Kristi, "It could be dangerous."
Veronica sniffed
"He's an Andalusian Stallion," she replied, "They were bred as horses for royalty and people of breeding such as myself. Besides I'm the most accomplished Equestrian here."
Veronica marched over and opened Thunder's stall and opened the door. when she stepped into the stall Thunder suddenly seemed to go crazy. He started whinnying loudly and rearing violently turning one way then another! The flurry of motion sent veronica sprawling. She hit the floor of the stall screaming. Thunder whirled around and took off through the open stall door. he went tearing through the front door of the barn disappeared up one of the trails.
Veronica came crawling out of the stall on her hands and knees. Kristi helped her up.
"That Crazy horse tried to kill me!" she said, "when she got herself together again."
Michael, who hadn't been able to come to Pine Hollow until he got out of school, arrived to find everyone standing near Max's office as they listened to him trying to calm down an irate Mr. DiAngelo.
"What's going on?" asked Michael walking up to Stevie
"Mike," she said, "I'm glad you're here Thunder went crazy this morning when Veronica walked into his stall. then he escaped and disappeared up the main trail!"
"What?" said Michael, "What was Veronica doing in Thunder's stall in the first place."
"I heard her say something about wanting to ride him." Stevie Replied.
Michael turned and hurried into the stall to look around. He that something had to have caused Thunder to freak out like that. It wouldn't just happened for no reason. Then he spotted the reason.
Mr. DiAngelo was yelling again
"I don't care what you think!" he yelled, "That murderous beast tried to kill my daughter!"
"Mr. DiAngelo, Horses don't act like that for no reason…" Started Max
"Oh. so you're saying this Is my Veronica's fault?!" Mr. DiAngelo snapped, "It figures you'd take the horse's side! It's a good thing I've already done something about this."
"Oh no," said Max, "What did you do?"
"I hired a shooter to find that beast and get rid of that homicidal horse once and for all!"
Michael shot up straight, his eyes full of fury. He stormed up the stairs and into Max's office.
"You hired someone to kill my horse!" he thundered
"Michael," started Max
"No," said Michael, cutting him off, "There is no way that I'm gonna let my horse pay for Veronica's stupidity!"
"What do you mean?" asked Max
Michael held up the object he found in Thunder's stall. It was Veronica's riding crop.
"This is the reason that Thunder went crazy!" said Michael, "Thunder's first owner beat Thunder half to death! Now thunder flips out anytime anyone goes near him with any kind of stick in their hands! That's why I don't use a riding crop."
He turned on Mr. DiAngelo before he continued.
"Oh, and course I would have warned Veronica about that if she had bothered to ask my permission before trying to ride my horse!"
DiAngelo was looking shocked and embarrassed as he came to the realization that it was Veronica's fault, but Michael wasn't finished. With a quick and subtle move of his arm he shoved DiAngelo back against the wall of Max's office.
"DiAngelo," he said, "Get on your phone and call off that shooter!"
Mr. DiAngelo grabbed his phone and hurriedly dialed the number.
"He's not answering," said Mr. DiAngelo turning pale, "He must be out there one the trail somewhere already he said he turns his phone off when he's on the job."
Michael turned and headed toward the door.
He paused in the doorway.
"DiAngelo," he growled, "You'd better pray that I find My horse before that shooter does!"