Page 40 of Through the Storms

“No, you’re fine,” Riley managed to croak out but was afraid to say more. The last thing Riley wanted was for Chloe to notice her reaction.

“We need to go west,” Oakley said, thankfully pulling Riley from her thoughts. “Take the next left.”

Britt slowed for the turn but accelerated as soon as she’d made it. An electric charge filled the van as everyone peered out the window. The group was surprisingly quiet. Even the newlyweds had torn their gazes away from each other and were gaping at the sky.

“Look at how dark it’s getting over there.” Chloe pointed and moved closer to Riley. Chloe was so near that Riley felt Chloe’s breath on her neck. Riley closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Are you okay?” Chloe asked.

“Yeah…uh…fine. Just clearing my mind so I can focus on the storm. I can’t believe how dark it’s getting over there.”

“Yeehaw,” Sandy said from behind. “Things are getting exciting.”

Britt sped up slightly, but she didn’t gun it like Riley expected her to.

“Is this the fastest this bucket of bolts will go?” Peggy asked, as if reading Riley’s mind.

“Storm chasers are careful to respect the law,” Oakley said in a robotic voice.

“Is that your rehearsed answer?” Peggy asked.

“Maybe.” Oakley turned and smiled. “Seriously, we try to abide by the speed limit as much as possible. Storm chasers sometimes get a bad name out here, and it only takes one fool to make us all look bad. Unless it’s dire for safety reasons, we don’t drive like maniacs.”

“We’re getting close,” Britt said. “Ya better give them a refresher course.”

“On it.” Oakley turned from her computer. “From the looks of it, this system could form a supercell. Remember we need warm moist air and cold dry air to collide to trigger the storm. Anyone remember what kind of cloud that is?” Oakley pointed at the dark cloud that appeared to be spreading upward.

“Um,” Chloe said. “It’s a big, long name.” She put her hand against her forehead. “It’s like a combination of cumulus and nimbus. Cumulususnimbus.”

“Close.” Oakley smiled. “It’s a cumulonimbus cloud.”

“Whoa,” Sandy said. “This old lady needs you to back up. Cumo-la-what?”

Oakley laughed. “Cumulonimbus,” she said slower.

“Nope, still didn’t get it,” Sandy said.

“Cue. Mew. Low. Nim. Bus.” Oakley sounded it out.

The sisters repeated it.

“Perfect. As you can see, the cloud is rising, and we’re looking to see if a wall cloud is going to form under it.”

Riley narrowed her eyes, hoping to see better.

Chloe pointed. “I think that might be it.”

Riley’s heart raced. While it was still in the distance, Riley could see the possibility.

“I’m going to get in front of it,” Britt said.

One of the sisters gasped.

“Not to worry,” Oakley said. “Tornadoes normally move from the southwest to the northeast.” As Oakley spoke, Britt made a sharp turn to the right. “Even though Britt is going east to get in front, we’ll still be south of it.”

“Doesn’t it sometimes go in other directions?” Chloe asked. The tremor in her voice was evident.

“It can. That’s why we tell you to listen to our instructions and move when we tell you to move.”

Riley glanced over Britt’s shoulder. The speedometer read sixty-five. Britt gripped the steering wheel tightly, and her left thumb rapidly tapped on the wheel. Riley suspected it was how she kept her speed in check.