I'm Workin for a Haunted Ranch - Chap 2

Hey guys, I haven’t gotten scared off yet, not from lack of tryin, but I’m still here. If you are new to this, you might need to go back to my first post where I told y’all about my first day here at The Ranch.

I’ve been thinkin about what stories might interest you guys the most, and I think this one is probably one of the weirder ones I’ve got. Also, before I get started, I just wanted to say that I’m so happy that people have taken an interest in my job!

Ok, this took place probably a month or so into my tenure here at this place. I saddled up my horse that James gave me named Music, who was an old paint mare. Music, Ellie, and I took off toward the pasture to check on the herd of cows. They were in a pasture probably one hundred acres with a river runnin through it with a big thick forest of pine trees on the other side of it.

So, me and Music made our way down by the edge of the river. It was so serene listenin to the water creepin down through the land mixed with the sound of Music’s hooves making that ever-satisfyin sound. We were about three miles down the hill when I found some prints from the herd going down beside the river in the same direction I was headed in.

As I continue down on this trail, I noticed that the herd had cut across the river and proceed into the wood. So, I pull on the reins pushin Music towards the forest. As we splashed through the river Ellie caught a scent of what I assumed was the cows and she sped up goin’ into the woods. I called out to her, trying to make her come back, but she just kept ongoing as she disappeared into the forest. I wasn’t real concerned she probably just spotted a squirrel or rabbit and has it treed it in there.

When we crossed into the forest, it was as if we entered a brand-new world. I could no longer hear the water from the river rushing as well as the trees almost entirely blockin out the sky.

As my eyes adjusted to the change in light, I looked around to see no cows and no Ellie. As I’m callin out for her, an unsettling feelin shot threw me. I clucked to Music, makin her speed up in the direction that Ellie went. About two minutes in, I hear Ellie barkin’ and gettin closer. Soon after, Ellie shoots out of some bushes like a bat out of hell goin toward the house. Ellie blazin past must have scared Music because she reared and fell on her side, and that’s when everything went black.

I woke up and I see the orange light barely shinin through the trees, which told me it was probably the afternoon meanin I had been out for probably four or five hours. The next thing I notice is that my head and leg was killin me and my saddle is still layin on top of me. I throw it off me to see that the girth strap had been cleanly cut through. Havin too many other pressing issues goin’ on, I didn’t think on that too much and stood up. With my head spinning, I look around to see no sign of Ellie or Music, but I did see the lights.

They were like little orange circles floatin off in the distance in the opposite direction of the house. I stupidly thought that this was someone who had snuck on to the place and had a fire goin. So, I got my twenty-two revolver that was as old as me out of my saddlebag just in case. The gun was more for scaring somethin away than killin. Keepin low, I started limpin up toward the light when I heard a rustle to my left. I scanned the surrounding trees and didn’t see anything, so I kept going up to the lights. When I got a clear look at the lights, I saw what they were. These lights were just orange balls about the size of golf balls just floating there about three foot off the ground. Almost as soon as I saw the lights, however, they vanished into thin air instantly.

As I stood there in almost pitch-black darkness; tryin to make some sense of what I just saw, I noticed it. I realized that a light was still in the distance, it just took a moment for me to see it. They were two perfectly round, bright green lights about four foot up off the ground. These were much smaller than the orange lights, as well these were flickering every few seconds. That’s when it hit me. They weren’t flickering; it was blinking!

Upon this realization I started to slowly back away, hopin that this thing couldn’t see my shaking hands. I stayed facin my watcher as I hobbled my way out of the woods. As I was going, I would see the eyes blink then open in another spot. The thing I remember stickin out to me the most was how it never made any sound. It was moving from spot to spot but never hittin a branch or leaves on the ground. It never made an effort to attack me or nothin just followed like that and watched me until I crossed the river out of the trees.

I remember lookin back at the trees and seein those eyes blink and never reopen. Makin my way through the pasture toward the house I kept replaying what happened. So many questions ran through my head. Where did Ellie and Music go? Why hadn’t James come lookin for me? What was that thing?

When I got to the house, I was met with Music in the barn munchin on hay. It looked like James had already done my feedin for me. When I walked up to the house Ellie met me jumpin up at me like she thought I was never comin back. The most interestin thing was James sittin at the diner table eatin cornbread like nothin’ was wrong.

I just stood there in the doorway lookin at him. He looked up and plain as day asked, “Where have you been?” I told him parts of what happened, not mentioning the lights or the creature, when he stopped me and asked, “Wait, what do you mean the herd tracks went into the forest?” I just looked at him, wondering why he was askin that of all things. He said a little concerned, “Pete, those cows have never been in those woods as long as I have been here. None of my animals go in those woods and if they do, they either don’t stay for long or don’t come out at all.” I was so confused by this statement I ask the sensible question of why he didn’t fence it off if the forest was dangerous? He just chuckled and said, “You know that’s a good idea maybe we should do that sometime.” I couldn’t make myself talk anymore, so I just went up to my room and started treating my leg.

I just don’t understand why James would be so insistent that we don’t go out after dark one minute, then the next is completely fine with leavin me outside for God knows how long. The longer I stay here, the more questions are raised. I’m startin to realize why James is here by himself, unless you count ole Henry and he is not one for conversations, let me tell ya.