Hi there, this is my first published fanfic although I've been writing them for myself for years. I never wanted to share any of them, but decided this one might just be alright to share. A mixture of story and book. Will eventually lead to romance but might be slow building so you'll have to be patient. No clue how long it'll go but hoping to continue to LOTR. This is just book 1 and I'll add chapters as I go.

Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of JRR Tolkins works or Peter Jackson's.

Also, there might be some trigger points throughout the story as the lead character deals with a previous family trauma. Just an FYI.

If there was one thing Shyloh Elizabeth Hanson detested first thing in the morning, it was a phone call from the local small town sheriff. Nothing, and I mean nothing got someone out of bed quicker than the words: 'cows are out.' With an irritated groan her bare feet hit the cold wood floor, sending a shiver through her body as she snatched a pair of thick black leggings from her dresser drawer and pulled them on. It didn't even register in her mind that they were her favorite pair until she looked down at them and cringed. She loathed the idea of wearing them to chase after animals, however, time was of the essence and she couldn't be picky about her wardrobe right now, even though she knew she'd be kicking herself about it later.

She snatched an over sized sweatshirt and tugged it on quickly, then reached for her phone and tucked it into a back pocket of her jeans.

"Mack!" she cried as she pulled her door open. "Mack, get up! Cows are out!"

She pounded her fist on her brothers bedroom door but the only response she got was a deep groan. She rolled her eyes before pulling a hair band off her wrist and pounded her fist on his door again.

"Get up! Cows are out! Officer Burns already called once."

A few well chosen curse words filled the silence from inside her older brothers room and she took that as a sign he was up. Sure enough, seconds later she heard feet hit the floor as she gathered up her wild head of hair and pulled it into a sloppy pony tail.

"Make it quick," she snapped, and he grumbled a few more ill words but she ignored them as she hurried downstairs to the kitchen. Although it was still dark outside, there was a hint of light on the horizon indicating morning was right around the corner.

She snatched the truck keys off the counter and grabbed her tall Muck boots from the pile near the back door. With another shout up the steps, she stepped out the back door into the cold, crisp early morning. The cold air woke her up even more as she sat down on the top step, dropping her boots at her feet. Fall was in full swing and though she loved the changing colors and crispy air, she hated winter.

Well, what farm girl didn't? Aside from the fun hours throwing snowballs at her unsuspecting brother, snow got in to everything. Frozen water pipes, frozen water tanks, icy grounds, cold hands, dozens of extra layers, gloves that got wet, and temperatures that plummeted into the negative forties. No, she would be happy if time could skip straight to spring.

The door slammed behind her and Mack plopped himself down into a chair, his boots hitting the planks of the porch with an heavy thud.

"I'll be happy when they're back home," Mack said with a groan. "I'm so over looking after their animals."

Shyloh rolled her eyes. "It's only been a few days," she reminded him.

He grunted as he pulled on a boot. "Who cares? They can find someone else to do their stinking chores next time."

Shyloh knew he didn't mean it. Truth was, Mack loved going to the farm and he loved the animals. Well...maybe he loved tinkering with the machinery more than dealing with the cows, but still, he loved the farm. She pulled on her other boot and waited until he finished lacing up his shoes. They practically grew up at their aunt and uncles farm. It was only a ten minute drive from their dad's house and because their dad worked long hours they spent much of their childhood petting the cows, shoveling manure, feeding the chickens, riding the horses, and of course riding along on the tractors.

Now they were older and could look after themselves more. Their aunt and uncle had taken four days off to attend a funeral down in Ohio and their other hired hand took care of the morning chores and feeding.

Shyloh dangled the keys from her finger and looked expectantly at her brother.

"Ready?"

He gave a stiff nod and then snatched the keys out of her grasp before she could protest. He always had to drive and it irritated her but she bit her lip because she knew he was annoyed enough. Mack was not a morning person. It was like stepping on pins and needles to get him going in the morning where his younger sister was just the opposite.

They didn't speak as he started up the old Ford pickup and it roared to life, scattering the chickens out of the way as he pulled out of the driveway and took the old dirt road to the left heading towards the farm.

"Did he say if it was the cows or heifers?"

Shyloh shook her head and said, "No, just that there were animals out."

Mack only dipped his head in a shallow nod and stepped on the gas peddle. Animals out was never a good sign and it meant there was a good chance they would spend the next few hours fixing fence; a task the both of them hated. The rolling hills of south western Wisconsin passed them by as the sun crested the horizon, illuminating the fields that surrounded them as they drove. She loved their home land and every time she set her eyes on it she loved it even more. They were closer to the Mississippi, so the bluffs reached up towards the sky as if they lived in their own sort of mountain paradise.

The bluffs were covered in tall green pines and moss covered rocks that jutted out into open space and her mind flash backed to riding her pony like a wild child as they raced through the small woods on their aunts rolling farm, going as fast as the pony's little legs would take him. As if sensing her distraction, Mack slammed the back of his hand into her shoulder making her jump. She clearly had not been paying attention to him as he talked and smacking her was his way of telling her to focus.

"Did you remember to close the side gate last night?" he asked and when she looked at him his gaze met hers with a frown.

"I left that gate open one time and you hold it against me for eternity?" she snapped and he rolled his eyes.

"You get distracted too easily," he said knowingly, and then gave her a pointed look that told her she knew it was true.

"Yes!" she hissed. "I closed the gate. I double checked it, I know I did."

"Uh-huh," he said with another roll of his eyes. "You said that the last time too and we spent two hours chasing after the whole herd."

"It was one time!"

"Whatever, were almost there anyways. Then we'll know for sure."

She crossed her arms and glared at him out of the corner of her eye but then worry started to settle in. Had she closed the gate? That nagging feeling that she'd screwed up again formed in the pit of her stomach and she bit back a groan. She was positive that she closed the gate.

The question of 'did I close the gate' was about the same as 'did I turn the stove off?' That irritating question you asked yourself over and over until you finally had to double, no – triple – check to make sure you did it swirled around her brain until they pulled into the farm yard; a trail of dust blowing in their wake.

Sure enough, the cows were out and the morning milker was standing outside the barn with his arms crossed looking more than irritated.

Their cousin wasn't usually an angry person but like Mack and Shyloh, he hated being called first thing in the morning to be informed that the cows were out. She gave a weak smile to him as she slammed the truck door behind her and assessed the situation.

Lucky for them, the milking herd was small at only forty head and the farms border collies Bear and Daisy were already doing their thing by keeping the cows from getting away.

"Was the gate open?" Mack asked. If Shyloh had been close enough she would have repaid her brother with a backhanded smack of her own.

"No," Tony said. "The fence must not be working."

A smug smile tugged at the corners of Shyloh's mouth but her brother purposely ignored her as he headed towards the machine shed that housed the box that made the fence electric.

"Did you check to make sure it was plugged in?" Mack asked and Tony nodded with a sigh.

"Yep, it's plugged in."

"What about the breaker box? Did you check to see if the switch flipped?"

"I checked that too," Tony said as he fell into step with Mack.

The two boys were only a year apart at 24 and 25 with Tony being the older one, but even though they were only cousins they were more like the evil twins she couldn't get rid of.

Tony stopped and eyed her up with a smirk on his face. "You sure Shy didn't let them out again?"

"It was one time!" she snapped and she crossed her arms in front of her with an annoyed huff.

The boys laughed and then Tony pulled the same dirty old hat he wore off his head and ran his fingers through his messy blond hair before settling it back on his head. It was a trait she saw he did often and Mack was much the same way.

"Well lets get them in before they decide to take off." Tony gave a whistle to the two dogs who had been patiently waiting for the signal to do their job.

The two dogs knew where the cows belonged and it wasn't tromping around the front yard or stepping on the slightly weedy flower bed near the house.

"High-ho Silver, you watch the driveway. Make sure they don't make a break for the road." Mack called and she bit back the urge to reply sarcastically. Mack's childhood nickname for her irritated her beyond belief. Her hair had always been a very light blond colored to the point it looked like it had white streaks in it, and he enjoyed teasing her about it.

While Tony smirked, Mack swung the double gates open by the barn and Shyloh took up her place in the drive way. It didn't take long for the dogs to get the cows headed in the right direction and before long the last one bucked its way through the gate like a rodeo steer.

"You sure that's all of them?" Tony asked as his eyes swept the yard again while Mack latched the gates together.

Shyloh turned to scan the yard also. Aside from the large white washed farm house with its green steel roof, the various amounts of machinery that scattered the edges of the yard, the chicken coop with its patched up roof and the honking machine shed that was filled to capacity down a ways to their left, she saw no other cows running wild.

A neigh behind the shed caught their attention and Mack rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, you're going to disappear and not help with the fence now?"

"If you're going to ride, just make sure you got your phone with you." Tony told her, .

"You boys look like you got this under control."

They knew her too well. Of course she was going to ride, how could she not when her favorite horse was already calling out to her?

"You staying for chores?" she asked, looking at Mack as she walked away.

"I've got no where else to be," he huffed and Tony gave him a smirk. "And the fence needs fixing."

"Good," their cousin said with a smile, clearly happy he'd have help.

Shyloh hurried away with a smirk on her face. She'd get her fair share of chores tonight during the evening milking but for now she let the boys be as she hurried around the side of the machine shed. Another neigh floated through air when she came into sight and she couldn't help but stretch her legs out even faster as she approached the waiting horse.

"Hey Bossy boy," she cooed and held out her hands. He stuck his muzzle into her palms, half expecting her to be carrying treats. Disappointed, he swung his head away and pawed at the ground impatiently.

"Greedy much? I don't even get a hello?" she pouted but the hoof struck the ground again and he ignored her. "Fine, I'll feed you, but only because you're cute."

He followed her along the fence line until she came to the back door of the shed and disappeared inside momentarily. A few minutes later she reappeared with a bucket of oats in one hand and the grooming bag in another. Dumping the feed in his tub, she let him eat while she climbed through the fence rails and made quick work brushing him down.

The tall gray stood at a whopping sixteen three hands and even though Shyloh wasn't considered short she wasn't the tallest either. She was 5'8" and still had to stretch on her tippy toes to run the brush across his backside.

Boss was an Oldenburg Thoroughbred cross, but half the time her aunt said he acted more like a Labrador puppy. Ever since her aunt 'retired' from showing, Shyloh had had the privilege of riding and showing the horse as much as possible. Today, she was itching to get on him. There was nothing more satisfying than riding first thing in the morning.

Snagging the halter off the post she slipped it over Boss's nose and tied him to the rail. She fetched his tack next and swung the hunt saddle over his back; smoothing out the white pad underneath. Cinching him up, she buckled his breast collar and then slid the halter off his face and the steel bit into his mouth. He took the bridle like a champ as always and she gave him a scratch behind the ears as a reward.

"Come on boy, lets do this."

She led him out of the pasture towards the sandy arena that was slightly starting to become infested with weeds and grass. It desperately needed a good grating but she wasn't going to pester her brother or cousin to help her start up the tractor. The day was waiting ahead.

She checked the girth and flicked the reins over Boss's ears. As she settled herself into the saddle she breathed a heavy sigh of contentment as Boss took his first step. In all of her twenty three years, Shyloh's favorite memories somehow involved riding horses. Boss's ears flicked back to catch her sigh but then they perked ahead as she put him through his paces and finally turned him towards the direction of their first jump. It was a simple jump, only two feet off the ground and he cleared it with ease. The next one was a double and he automatically lengthened his stride and cleared the first and next one effortlessly.

She patted him on the neck like she always did and then they took a few of the higher ones. She kept her eyes ahead and chin up as she naturally leaned into the jump. He landed smoothly and then she brought him back to a walk when movement caught her eye along the treeline.

At first she thought it was a cow and she groaned inwardly at the thought of having to chase more animals. Boss must have noticed it too because he gave a nicker of recognition and her shoulders slumped.

"Great, now we get to do more work." she grumbled. "It's too early for work."

She gathered her reins and steered Boss towards the treeline at the edge of his pasture. The tall trees were an array of different colors, with the oaks being the most vibrant and it sent a familiar shiver down her spine. The beauty of the trees always made her heart leap. They neared the edge of the small woods but when she scanned the tree line she saw no sign of the cow. She glanced backwards once to see if Mack or Nate were around. They'd have a fit if she disappeared from view while riding but she shrugged and turned back around in the saddle. She had her phone in her pocket if she ran into trouble.

Boss was no beginner when it came to cattle. It wasn't unusual to find him on the opposite side of his fence grazing with the cows, and her uncle always had words to say about it.

She lost count of how many times she'd ridden Boss through these trees, following the same paths all while letting her mind wander into far away places filled with excitement and adventure. She might be twenty three years old, but those childhood memories of racing through the woods were ones she held close to her heart and sometimes she longed to go back to simpler times when life made sense.

It was the tragic loss of their mother that made Shyloh take to riding horses as much as she did. They'd become a beacon of light for her in a time of darkness that threatened to consume her in grief and misery. While Mack had taken to helping on the farm and tinkering with tractors and trucks to keep himself busy, she'd taken to riding wildly through the woods on the horses and ponies like a mad woman. They pulled her away from the reality of their loss and helped her overcome her anger.

The accident wouldn't be one she'd ever forget, having been in the front seat next to her mother when it happened, but still, how fair had it been that she lived while her mother died? They called it survivors guilt and there had been times after the accident when she'd questioned the real reason of her survival. She was supposed to be dead. The truck had flipped six times down a hill after being hit head on while going 60 mph down the highway by a semi. There was no way she should even be alive but yet here she was. She'd miraculously survived and was what her doctors called a 'medical miracle.'

Well, she didn't feel like a 'medical miracle,' and she bit her lip as she turned Boss's head towards the path they normally took. She shook her head as if she could shake the memories away from suffocating her. Riding horses was her freedom and here she was, breaking the first rule of riding: thinking about the past.

"Nope," she said out loud, making Boss's ears flick towards her voice. "No thinking allowed."

He bobbed his head as if agreeing and then snorted.

"Now, where did our little escapee disappear to?" she asked, but Boss didn't answer. His ears perked forwards again so she took it as a sign the cow had run up the path. "Forward it is!"

They trotted a ways before she let Boss settle back into a walk.

"I don't see our little friend," she said. Worry began creeping into her stomach again as she looked around at the thickening trees. "Do you?"

Again, Boss didn't answer as he trudged along. She felt an odd tingling up her spine and instinctively tightened her hands on the reins. Boss tossed his head, silently protesting his agitation but he kept his pace even.

"Is it just me," she said quietly. "Or do these trees not look very familiar?"

She looked behind them and her eyes swept the scene as if she might find a sign of some sort that told her they'd gone too far. Seeing nothing, she turned back around and looked from side to side.

She'd ridden the woods enough to know almost every tree and path and it wasn't like it was a big wood to begin with. It was only about twenty acres but the heaviness of the air and strange trees that stretched in weird ways told her something was off.

"We should turn back boy," she said stiffly. "This doesn't feel right."

Instead of complying, Boss broke into a choppy trot and she had to grab a fist full of mane to keep herself seated in the saddle.

"Hey!" she cried in protest but Boss's gate wasn't natural to him. His ears flickered back nervously. His head rose and he moved forwards even quicker despite her commands to slow back down.

"Walk!" she ordered but he wasn't having any of it. Without warning, he bolted and she was launched back in the saddle, almost losing her balance along the way. "Boss! Whoa!"

If she hadn't been holding on to his mane already, she would have landed on her backside in the dirt. Her heart lept into her throat and she choked on a cry as he surged forwards. She could feel the fear radiating off of him and she clung to him with both hands and knees. Instinct told her something was wrong and she chanced a glance behind them again but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

The trees passed in a blur and she couldn't remember a time she'd let him run this fast. Awful images of him tripping and falling and being thrown raced through her mind as she felt a hitch in his gait.

Keep a leg on each side and your mind in the middle, her mind screamed at her so she took her own advice. She pulled herself upright and planted her feet in the stirrups. She adjusted her reins but Boss wasn't having any of that. He pulled his head forwards and she felt the reins slip through her fingers even more but she refused to let them go completely. She was an experienced enough rider to know that horses were a fight or flight animal and Boss's instincts told him to flee.

So she let him.

They raced through the trees, following the same path and a horrible feeling of being watched formed in her gut. She knew that mountain lions weren't completely unheard of in Wisconsin. In fact, there had been reports not long ago of them being in the eastern part of the state. Fear prickled up her spine at the thought and she didn't chance another look back just in case. If there was a mountain lion, there was no way she was going to end up stranded in the middle of the woods to find out.

They should have reached the edge of the woods by now but the trail dipped down and then up a steeper incline and Boss galloped on. Ironically she thought she should have worn a helmet and she almost kicked herself for not doing so. Oh, how her mother would have skinned her alive if she'd caught her riding without one.

Shyloh ducked as a low hanging branch seemed to appear out of now where, scratching her cheek as they swept past it.

Close call!

The last thing she needed was to lose an eye because she wasn't paying attention. She put tension on the reins again and Boss objected at first but then as if he sensed they were clear of danger he slowed his pace to a steady rhythm and finally, at long last, she brought him down to a walk. His sides were heaving and sweat was lathered on either side of his neck. Her hands were shaking and she leaned forwards to wrap her arms around his neck, not caring at all about the sweat.

She squeezed him tightly until he objected by pulling his face down and she felt herself slip forwards in the saddle. Straightening, she took a deep breath and looked around.

"We're not in Kansas anymore Boss," she sighed, laughing inwardly at the joke. It was only when she looked around that she realized they lost the trail.

"Not good," she muttered and she looked around closer as they walked. "I don't understand. We've been through these woods hundreds of times but this does not look familiar at all."

There was a heaviness about the air that made her feel groggy. When she looked up into the branches she felt her insides condense. The vibrant color that once plagued the beautiful trees was gone. Instead, the green leaves rippled in the breeze and the only thing that crunched beneath Boss's hooves were leaves that looked like they'd already spent a winter on the ground.

"Are these trees... budding?" she wondered aloud as they walked closer to a branch. Indeed, the smaller trees had buds on them like one would see in the spring time when the trees were just beginning to wake up from their winter slumber.

"Strange..."

Suddenly, Boss stopped and Shyloh went on high alert. His ears swiveled back and forth as if he heard something, and that same creepy feeling crept up her spine once again. She looked around, hoping to see the cause of the uncomfortable sensation but she didn't see any sort of animal in the brush or tree tops. Then without warning, Boss bolted again. This time, she was caught off guard and she felt herself slip sideways. The ground rushed up to meet her and she hit it with a heavy thud, her head smacking against the hard ground as she landed.

She felt the air get knocked from her chest and then a paralyzing darkness engulfed her as the sound of Boss's hooves faded away.

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think! Saddlesore