The fourth wish
The first time Darby makes a fourth wish the first three are canceled. But the second time they aren't because the death coach leaves and Katie survives. What did I miss?
shareThe coach couldn't leave empty so Darby asked to ride in his daughter's place. The moment he stepped into the coach (death), Katie fully recovered. By the time Darby made his fourth wish, the coach was already heading for the netherworld and Katie was alive and well. So Darby got booted out of the coach (having wished to take her place on the ride) but they couldn't go back for her because she wasn't on death's doorstep anymore.
shareBut wasn't that his fourth wish? What am I missing?
shareThe wish to take Katie's place was on Darby, it was Darby's wish. Darby going instead was the wish.
You have to play it a bit fairly mystical, which is what it is, but the wish only covers present events.
Actually what should have happened is Katie remained ill until Darby was firmly crossed over into the other realm, but that's what made it a fanciful story. Yes, her fever broke so she was no longer ill when he stepped into the coach, from which he could then be kicked out of.
But the wish would not cover Katie, only Darby. If he had wished her to be well again, THEN she would have been in trouble, but his wish was for HIM to take her place.