Chapter 184 - A Piggyback Ride (1/2)

Arno finished constructing the piano on the stage a couple of weeks before the harvest began because the parts arrived earlier than expected. The roof for the amphitheater was still under construction—the Warriors decided to use building that as part of the training regimen—so for now it was covered with a canvas tarp to protect it from the elements when not in use.

Katie didn't remember anything from her piano lessons but where the notes were and three basic songs: Chopsticks, From a Wigwam, and the top half of Heart and Soul. She tested the first two and had to get Abby to do the chords for the third.

Play practice had been suspended while the area was under construction so the only people who heard any of the piano music were the Warriors and whatever Kanta men were on shift. Everyone was curious but Carrick ordered them to get back to work and apologized to Katie.

”It's fine,” she reassured him. ”We were only testing it out. We have plans to use this in the post-harvest celebration. Since you have already volunteered your men to help us with it you are all welcome to join us.”

”Thank you for your generosity, Madam Clan Leader,” Carrick said respectfully before returning to work.

Abby remembered about a dozen songs she could play without sheet music even though she was a little rusty on the chords. Half were fairly upbeat covers of pop songs and the other half were more classical in nature.

Katie was satisfied by what she remembered. ”We can definitely get a decent dance party started out of this. But what about you? You won't be able to dance if you're stuck at the piano all night.”

She shrugged. There was only one person she cared about dancing with and was fairly certain he had never danced in his life. Blaise already told her that music was something primarily reserved for the royal family in Shibatsu because instruments were expensive.

”I'll be fine. It's not like you can take over for me.”

Unbeknownst to her, Katie went off in search of Ayana to ask her to play a traditional song or two on the fiddle at the celebration so Abby could have the opportunity to dance. She had the feeling Blaise would want to finally make a move that night and had to leave it open for him.

===

The harvest lasted for roughly two weeks and everyone was exhausted by the time it was over. They rotated in shifts so at least a little work for their export business could be done. The merchants liked doing one or two big trips before the snow hit and they needed to have everything done in time.

Most people spent half the day in the fields and the other half making things in their various businesses to be sold. Abby was doubly tired because she had to carve out time each day to practice the piano so she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of everyone.

Blaise found her passed out on the piano bench one day with her face squished against the keys. ”Miss Abby, I would recommend finding a softer place to nap.”

She rubbed at her face tiredly. ”Thanks. I would have had a horrible crick in my neck if I stayed there much longer. What time is it?”

”About half past six. Katie sent me to fetch you when you did not come home for dinner.”