Love Unspoken

Quinn had been riding for what felt like forever before she finally pulled up. She sure as hell didn't expect to see Alexander chilling outside.

She just wanted to check if he was okay, not expecting him to be hobbling around the yard like it was no big deal.

She halted her horse and glanced back, but everything was a blur now.

After standing there like a statue for a bit, she decided to head to the next house.

Meanwhile, Alexander went back inside and just zoned out, staring out the window.

Amanda popped in a few times and saw him just standing there, staring off into space, which got her a bit worried.

She knew Quinn had just been there, and now Alexander was all moody, so it had to be connected.

Amanda sighed, slipped out quietly, and called her twin sisters over.

The two little girls peeked in from the doorway, trying to get a look at Alexander. After a bit, one of them tiptoed in.

When Alexander turned around, he saw two identical little girls standing there, looking all shy and staring at him.

He looked at them, his face blank for a moment.

One of the girls pulled out two candies from her pocket and handed them to him.

Alexander stared at the candies, then looked at the little girl's face.

Her big eyes were full of innocence and curiosity.

When he didn't take the candies, the girl grabbed his hand and plopped them into his palm.

Alexander looked at them, making the two girls a bit nervous.

He suddenly asked, "How old are you?"

"Five, we'll be five in two months," the girl replied.

Alexander didn't say anything else. He just rubbed the candies in his hand, looking at them with a complicated expression.

"Why are you looking at us like that?" one of the girls asked.

"Because you're beautiful," Alexander replied.

Hearing the compliment, the two girls giggled shyly. The older one ran out, while the younger girl stayed. She pulled out two more candies and placed them in his hand, saying, "All for you." "Thanks," Alexander said, patting her head.

He looked at her for a moment, then said, "Thanks for the candies. Go play now."

The girl nodded and skipped out.

Alexander watched her figure disappear, his fingers still rubbing the candies, his gaze distant again.

He thought, 'If the kid Quinn and I had was still alive, would they be this big now?'

He closed his eyes, trying to hide the storm of emotions inside.

Amanda's parents were out on the ranch and wouldn't be back for a while. Her brother was at school and only came home on weekends.

So, including Alexander, there were five people in the house.

In the evening, Amanda came in to call Alexander for dinner, but he refused.

Knowing he was in a funk, Amanda didn't push it. She ran out to call the three kids back.

Just as she found them at the door, a few people on horseback came galloping in, stopping abruptly in front of her.

Colin, the leader, dismounted and walked up to Amanda, saying politely, "Hey, is Alexander here?"

Amanda sized them up. They were all dressed in suits and looked pretty serious. She asked cautiously, "Who are you?"

"We're his friends. We heard he was hurt and came to take him back."

Amanda gave them another once-over, still suspicious. "How did you know he was here?"

'Didn't he forget his family and friends' phone numbers?' she thought.

"Ms. Mellon told us," Colin replied.

"Got it." Amanda's suspicion eased a bit, and she said, "He's inside. I'll go get him."

"No need. We'll go ourselves," Colin said.

Without waiting for Amanda's okay, he headed straight inside.