"Sweet lad..." Holden shook his head, running his fingers through Gideon's hair, hoping to be able to reassure him. "I'd rather let people take the house than ever let anyone take you away. You are my boy, aren't you? Forever and ever."

He wasn't going to lose him, no matter what. "But we could get a puppy, because we both want one. Get one together, like we have the chickens. Although the puppy is going to be a lot more work." He knew that much. But walking a lot every day, training a puppy to behave, teaching Gideon responsibility, all of those seemed good. "I don't think we should go today. Today we need to have food that's gentle on your teeth and maybe we can watch a nice movie."