"I reckon so," Holden said, nodding his head, "He'll like it a lot more now that you're here. Probably already has someone working on your presents. We'll have to write a letter to Santa so he knows what you want and where you live."

Seemed like a good thing, to engage with what the boy was talking about. "But first, I hear your birthday isn't far off. So maybe there will be some presents for that."

Holden was very, very certain that there would be, if only Gideon would actually want to stay here with him.

Gunn ate the pie, which was delicious, and he let them talk. Seemed best to let them get to know each other.