Champagne Romance (Romance Novel) by Suellen Smith Page A

coastline, deep canyons,
green mountains, and quiet coves made it perfect place for Slater’s
ranch that had been tucked away in the quiet mountains for a couple
of centuries.
    The ranch was originally the property of a
powerful Spanish Don. It was built in the early 1800’s about 200
years ago. Battles were fought and won as they finally forced the
Chumash Indians off their land and claimed it as their own. It was
a spectacular one and half-story-high home of mortar with a slate
tile roof. The walls were a foot thick that gave protection from
the elements and Indians. It was naturally cool in the summer and
warm in the winter. It was built in a square around an elaborate
ebony polished marble fountain surround by native lavender
Jacaranda flowering trees and lush tropical landscaping. The
fountain was originally the water well that provided the hacienda
with cool water for the original household. It meant that with
enough supplies, the occupants could hold up inside the hacienda
indefinitely. The inside walls of every room were glass and
overlooked the beautiful flowering garden. But, the outside walls
had high walls and windows that only had slits that were used for
rifle slots when it was needed to protect the small fort and also
provided ventilation for cool ocean breezes. Large stone fireplaces
adorned most of the twelve rooms and took the chill from the purple
mountains in the winter that looked down upon the quiet ranch from
a short distance away.
    Slater’s spectacular spread included over two
hundred acres of prime seaside land, a winding trout creek with
native trees and mountains nearby with deep canyons. Yucca plants
covered the lumpy terrain. Along the rugged and rocky ocean beach
were remote damp caves that often were the home for stolen riches
of pirates and smugglers as history likes to portray. It was a
beautiful and serene estate. It was also one of the most valuable
pieces of real estate property in the United States.
    The inside room of the ranch had long since
been modernized, but the charm of the eighteenth century was
preserved and remained the stately structure of the original ranch
house. Pinewood graced the walls, banisters, and ceiling giving it
a mountain lodge feel. It was sturdy and held together with pegs
instead of nails.
    The floor of the hacienda was the Mexican
tile similar to what is used today. A rustic Ralph Lauren look with
woven Navajo rugs graced the shiny floors and Pendleton blankets
covered chairs, ottomans, and pillows.
    Two large couches that were covered in brown
and white cowhide faced each other in front of a sixteen point elk
head that hung above the native stone fireplace. Black pottery from
Santa Clara held fresh colorful wild flowers on the pine and glass
coffee table between them. Authentic Hopi coiled Indian pottery
accented mantels and shelves. Many of their designs were of fine
and diverse pottery that depicted the heritage and traditions of
their own particular tribe. Original art of Georgia O’Keefe, RC
Gorman, and Caroline Gregg also lined the walls and halls of this
grand old ranch making it rich in American Indian culture. A
chandelier made of deer antlers mixed-in with handmade silver and a
touch of turquoise hung from the high ceiling entrée way in the
hall. A handmade silver saddle was on a stand in the corner. An
original rifle with fancy silver tooling on the shoulder butt was
in a glass case above an armoire filled with expensive museum
quality pottery. Subtle modern lighting was strategically placed to
show off each exquisite artwork of our American Indians and give
tribute to their artistic talent. It was expensive casual
decorating that complimented this ancient ranch and suited the
master of the house.
    It was late when Slater climbed into his
king-sized handmade natural pine bed. It had simple lines with some
carving on the headboard and bedposts. A wool Pendleton blanket in
brown, red, and dark turquoise Indian design covered the bed with
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