Follow-up:

I think we found out what kind of snake they are. After doing a bit of research, particularly involving a hissing snake, we found the following...

Gopher Snakes, Genus Pituophus

Found in a wide variety of habitat, including desert flats, coastal dunes, and coniferous forests, but preferring grasslands and open brush areas.

Non venoumous, 36-96 inches long (which means we first found a small one. Haven't told Anji yet how big they CAN get).

Slow moving, the gopher snake investigates burroes, rocky crevices, and even climbs trees in search of prey. Aduld snakes hunt rodents, small rabbits, birds, lizards, and even other snakes. Prey is killed by constriction, and suffocation.

Mostly diurnal, they can change their habits to be nocturnal, depending on environmental conditions (I don't think I will tell Anji this, either. She thinks they are only day loving, and since in this area, they likely are, we'll just leave it at that).

When alerted to danger, the snake coils up, and loudly hisses a warning, while vibrating its tail. (I did not notice the tail vibrating, but this is understandable, since the hiss was LOUD, and distracted me). The gopher snake can flatten it's head, and with the tail vibrating, and the hiss, it can resemble a rattlesnake, and has been known to frighten off potential predators, such as foxes and coyotes.

I did know it wasn't a rattlesnake, but after being startled by the hiss, I can understand why a smaller predator might be given pause. At any rate, Anji will be pleased to know it is non-venomous.