Harvest of Fear: The Ranch of Mutilation

Book excerpt: The ranch had always been a place of peace and tranquility for the Johnson family. Nestled in the rolling hills of Montana, the sprawling property was home to hundreds of cattle and had been in the family for generations. But that peace was shattered one fateful morning when the Johnsons discovered the first of many cattle mutilations. The gruesome scene was unlike anything they had ever seen before. The carcass of one of their prized cows lay on the ground, its eyes and tongue missing, its reproductive organs and rectum surgically removed. The blood had been drained from the body, leaving behind a cold, lifeless husk. Panic spread through the ranch as more and more mutilated cattle were discovered in the following days. The Johnsons called in local law enforcement to investigate, but they were baffled by what they found. There were no footprints, no signs of struggle, no clues as to who – or what – was behind the mutilations. As the days turned into weeks, the tension on the ranch grew thicker. The Johnsons were on edge, constantly looking over their shoulders and jumping at the slightest noise. The mutilations continued unabated, each one more grisly than the last. One night, young Johnny Johnson's dog went missing. Distraught, he turned to the ranch hand, Jim, for help in finding his beloved pet. Together, they ventured into the wooded area behind the ranch, calling out for the dog.