Riding Into Our Hearts **Finished**

Roping

Today everyone got up and ready for roping. There are two events today, both roping. The first is tie down, followed by break away. Elena and Skylar are doing both, as well as Sawyer and Levi.
Elena and the guys got up late due to the late night they had. They all woke up with pounding headaches. "Ah. My brain is screaming at me!" Said Ele. "I know. But we've got to get ready for tie down its in two hours. Don't worry I already fed all the horses. So everyone get dressed." Said Sky, who woke up early despite her headache. Levi walked up and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissed her neck, and whispered, "Thank you, Sky-pie!" In her ear. Sky looked over and saw Sawyer and Elena both sleeping again. So she thought of an idea, she handed Levi two pans and got her blow horn, she also had the music player ready to play 8 Second Ride by Jake Owen full blast. "Ok on three!" She whispered. "One...two...three!" They set off all three of the loud obnoxious noises. The two sleeping love birds leaped out of the bed and then turned and glared at Sky and Levi. The two jokesters ran for their lives. They ran and Sky jumped on Honor, her huge gelding was trained for free riding, so she galloped away. She yelled at Levi to swing up, so he did and wrapped tight around her frame. They galloped over to his trailer and he saddled and bridled his horse then they went to the arena. "Let's do some circles and figure eights at a working trot." Sky said. They did 4 of each then picked up speed. "Next well do an extended trot." Levi said. Next they moved into a collected canter, then onto an extended canter, and finally a gallop. "Race you round the arena!" Sky shouted. "Your on!" Levi replied.
"Ready...set...race!" They had a gate keeper start them off. The arena wasn't too large, just big enough for the barrel pattern, bout 1000m in perimeter.
Skylar's POV
I leaned forward and whispered ,"let's win!" In Honor's ears just before I heard "Ready...set...race!" I yelled,"Git!" And squeezed my calfs on Honor. He launched off his hindquarters and went full out. We ran and left Levi in the dust, he started out ahead cause his horse was the equivalent to a 400m sprinter while mine was the equivalent to a 800m sprinter. We were baring down on the finish line, Levi and Jaz were starting to catch up so I asked Honor for one last surge. We crossed the finish line first and I threw my hands up, while sitting back asking Honor to slow. "I win!" "Yea I know you don't have to rub it in!" Levi joked. We walked the horses out and headed back to the trailers.
Narrator POV
Sky and Levi cooled their horses out and put them in their stalls. Then they went into the "house" part and got dressed for the event. Sky wore a blue pearl snap. Elena wore a light sea foam green pearl snap. Levi wore a black and red button up, and Sawyer wore a white button up. They all went out and groomed the horses then clean their tack and saddled up. They went over and trotted round the arena until the announcer called to clear the arena. He started calling names of riders to enter the ring for the line up. The event started off with a bang, quite literally it was Fourth of July and they just set of a row of fireworks. After that the announcer called the first rider and the first steer was loaded. Multiple riders went before any of the group was called. The first of the four was Elena. She backed into the corner and when the steer was released she took in after it. She roped and tied it up in 8s, she was the leader so far. A couple more riders went then Levi was called. He got 8.23s second place holder. After one more rider Sawyer was called. He tied up in 8.9. The very last rider was Skylar. She rode in lined up and caught her steer dismounted and flipped her steer then went to tie up the feet and as she finished the knot one foot can loose. The run was disqualified. "Ah damn it!" Sky yelled when she exited the arena. "Well there goes roping for the season! Damn it!"
Levi's POV
I knew Sky was mad so I went over just to be with her. I wasn't gonna be all sappy she doesn't like that. I'll just be matter of fact with her. If she needs I'll be her shoulder, her anything.
I walk over to her, she is already off her horse praising him for his job well done. She ties Honor up at the water trough when she sees me and comes running into my arms. "It'll be alright. Sorry bout that run." "Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault I should have had a better grip and pulled the knot before I took my hands off." "Let's take Honor back to the trailer and take a little break before break away, alright?" I asked her. "Ok" was all she said.
We met Sawyer and Elena back at the trailer for lunch. "Hey guys what's for lunch?" Sky yelled out. She wasn't one to stay upset long, or at least show it long. Soon enough she'll of had too much pent up and I'll be here for her when she finally breaks down her walls.
We had grilled cheese sandwiches and a small fruit bowl. And when we heard the call for break away we cleaned up, tacked up, and rode back to the arena.
Narrator POV
They did the line up again then started the event. This time Sawyer was the first of the group to be called, he was the fifth rider total. He got a run of 4s "a little slow out the gate" he said to the squad afterwards. After ten riders they called Elena. She rode a 3.47s and had first place. Five more then Levi was called. He roped the steer and sat back looking at the clock he saw 3.46s. "Sorry Lane but your gonna have to be a tad faster next time. Like two hundredths of a second to be exact." Levi smiled and joked with Elena. Next was Skylar. She lined up and when the cue came exploded out the shoot. She threw her loop and got both horns, she sat back cueing Honor to do the same. She looked back at the clock, 2.1s. "Thank the lord!" She yelled right there. "Folks that's an arena record, you've got yourself an extra $100 here Skylar Jones." The announcer boomed. The rest of the riders went and the final rundown was Sky, Levi, Ele. They got their purses and tickets then went to change for the 4th of July party tonight and eat dinner. "Omg I know exactly what I'm gonna wear!" Ele said excitedly during dinner. "Same here!" Sky said in the same tone. After they all finished eating they went and got dressed. Ele wore a red, white, and blue fireworks shirt with some shorts that had red, white, and blue and a pair of 4th of July boots. Skylar wore an American flag shirt and shorts with some fringed festive boots. (Outfits below⬇️)

They were all ready and headed to the party.

The party lasted hours, of dancing, drinking singing, and now it's time for fireworks.
"Omg! I love fireworks!" Said Ele excitedly. "I love the sight. But they're a little loud." Sky said. "Hey girlies, I got a blanket over on the grass let's go sit." Sawyer yelled from the field. They all headed over and lied down on the blanket.
Elena's POV
The fireworks started and were amazing! And laying in Sawyers arms was amazing as well. I smiled to myself, thinking about our lives right now. Traveling the rodeo circuit, loving boyfriends, wonderful horses, and the greatest best friend. I was just falling asleep as the fireworks ended.
Skylar's POV
The fireworks were beautiful, way too loud but super pretty. I was laying on Levi's chest between his legs. I fell asleep immediately after the fireworks stopped. I was in a half sleep and felt when Levi lifted me up and carried me to the truck. We drove home, me still asleepish, and Levi took off my jeans, then lied down next to me. I fell completely asleep.