The vast Ranchos of California flourished in the 1840’s. Life was an adventure filled with high spirited action and passion. This was all about to change. The United States Army, clearly intent on taking over California from Mexico, are sweeping down the coast from Monterey. There would be no turning back. Important Ranchos stood in their way. On one such Rancho, the weary Captain, his wife Josefa, a socialite from a prominent family in Santa Barbara, and their four adult sons were already in turmoil. Control of the Rancho was about to be passed from the Captain to his oldest son Juan. His explosive little brother Miguel, however, was determined to wrest control from his father before this happened. This meant destroying the very fabric of his family. Tragedy and heartbreak plague the dysfunctional lives of the Rancho denizens. Soon, violence and treachery would create a momentous period of upheaval. The agitators, Colonel Fremont and his formidable American soldiers have left chaos and uncertainty in their wake. They face little resistance. Directly ahead, the Captain, an American by birth, agonizes over declaring his future allegiance. He knows the bucolic life on the Rancho faces an existential threat. What happens next will define this epic saga and help determine the historically significant outcome for California.