"Hey. Nice job." She said, approaching him. "I'm gonna go grab my prize if you want to follow?" She offered

The two walked back to the arena and as they were called, made an appearance and got their prizes. Dakota got a buckle and a check for 1K and Nate got a buckle and a check for 4K. As they walked back to his trailer, she looked up at him and smiled. "At this rate I can retire early." She joked, knowing this was only her 4th buckle

"See you tomorrow for the last day." She said, smiling at him and walking to her trailer. She put Secret loose in the trailer before climbing into her truck and falling asleep. The next morning, Dakota had the happy feeling of waking up at a rodeo. She quickly changed in her truck and put on her new buckle before climbing out of her truck and stretching. She grabbed her mare from the trailer, refilling the haynet and hanging it in front of the sleepy mare who munched lazily on the hay. Dakota had a good feeling about tonight's run and was hoping she could compete in poles as well. She tugged the blanket off of Secret and groomed the paint mare out before tacking up to practice

Dakota mounted up and walked past Nate, shooting him a smile before putting on a poker face infront of the other women. She practiced a few barrel runs, sharing the arena one at a time with the other barrel racers before giving up and walking back to the trailer. She loosened Secret's girth and put a halter on the mare rather than a bridle before walking over to Nate and leaning on the trailer next to him. "Where did you grow up?" She asked after a moment

"Just curious." SHe said, shrugging her shoulders and folding her arms