An Ounce of Prevention

Finally, in the evening they crossed the border into Arizona. Shortly after they crossed the border, Carmen directed Alex to turn south, off the interstate. That was when things began to heat up.

Alex turned off the highway where she indicated and pulled the van to the side of the road. "Let me see that map."

She handed the map to him. "We're going to a place southeast of Tucson."

He examined the map. "Why don't you go over to Flagstaff and go down through Phoenix? That way you could stay on the interstate."

"That would be over a hundred miles out of the way. As it is, we're behind schedule."

His gaze lifted from the map and targeted her eyes. "What schedule? Isn't this supposed to be a relaxing vacation?"

She sighed. "You have to have some kind of schedule, Alex. Otherwise you'll run out of time before you see what you came for." She pointed at the map. "We'll go right down 191 all the way to Safford."

His gaze dropped to the map again and he frowned. "I don't like the idea of using side roads in unfamiliar territory."

"It's not a side road. It's a major highway. I figured we could stay overnight in St Johns and be at our destination tomorrow night. It's supposed to be a scenic route through the White Mountains."

He handed the map to her. "I still don't think it's a good idea, but if you've got your head set on it…" He pulled the van back onto the road. "You'd better stock up on water and food tomorrow before you leave - and fill up the tank. Fill it every time you get a chance. Make sure you have plenty of water."

He was over-reacting, but at least he wasn't insisting she drive over half of Arizona. It was ridiculous to insist on staying on the interstate their entire vacation. What was the point of going? Of course, he didn't want to go at all.

The country was pretty with rolling hills, grassy valleys and mountains in the distance. St Johns was smaller than she thought it would be, but it was a clean little town. They found a hotel and transported all their things from the van before going out to eat for supper. They were falling into a routine.

While Carmen directed the bathing of the younger children, she listened to Alex and Jonathan as they studied the map.

"This is an Indian Reservation all along here," Jonathan noted.

"Look at the elevation of this mountain peak," Alex said. "Almost eleven thousand feet."

"Apache Sitgreaves Forest," Jonathan read. "I was hoping to see desert by now."