Riding Into Our Hearts **Finished**

Nation Finals Rodeo

December 8
We arrived at the rodeo grounds in Las Vagas and they were spectacular! I couldn't believe how big the grounds were! I unloaded Ember and took her over to a small arena to lunge her, just to stretch her legs. If I let her loose she'll roll and we have a race in two hours.

"Can we get all our Bronc riders please?" The announcer boomed. I went over to draw my horse. It was Knightshade again, yay (note the sarcasm).
I climbed in the shoot giving him my normal down talk to make him mad as hell then nodded and slapped his ass. He shot straight up hen turned out, he threw me his worst and hardest bucks but it was like I was glued there on his back. I didn't even notice the buzzer went off until the pick up rider came over to ask if I was stuck. I shook my head and let him help me off. I ran over to Levi and Elena to hug them then Elena and I went to get ready for roping.
We placed very well in roping earning very high scores giving us a better shot at overall.
"Alright barrel racers! Let's see some action from the main attraction!" Elena was before me. I was terrified, this would be my first competition on Ember. And it was the NFR! I watched as Elena ran for the first making a picture perfect turn and runnin got the second. Her second was even better if that was even possible. Then her third! I don't know how but she got even closer to that barrel but didn't even nudge it! It was amazing. She got 15.397s! "Omg! Fantastic job Ele!" I hugged her before she even got off her horse.
After seven more riders I was up. I rode up to the shoot as the last rider came out. I leaned forward and whispered in Ember's ear," Be my wings and I'll be your eyes!" Then I encouraged her forward to her first barrel. I asked for the turn and she gave it. We were so close to that barrel I'm surprised it is still standing. The second I could feel it brush my jeans. I gotta watch her in this one. She got close enough for my boot to tap the barrel but it didn't budge. We ran home like there was no tomorrow. I hope tomorrow is just like this!

It is! Today Ember is just like yesterday! So is Elena and Holly! We happened to have times off by one thousandth of a second. I got 15.396s. Today is the determining day!
I got first on broncs, Elena won tie down and break away, the guys beat us in team. And now is barrels again.
The times were so close for Elena and I that they had to go down two more numbers. I got 15.12643s and Elena got 15.12642! We are so close to each other it's amazing. I don't know what they don't just call it a tie.
It's time for final awards. Levi won overall cowboy and Jacob got runner up. They tied for Grand Champions for tie down and beat us in team, they didn't win but they beat us. For break away Elena got Second and me third. Elena got barrel Grand Champion after our average times! And I won overall cowgirl because of my Bronc riding! In the end my first NFR rodeo was the best and most memorable day of my life, because as I was going up to receive my Overall Cowgirl award Levi met me up there and proposed!