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It was the slight falter in his touch that brought her head up
“Papa, you’re weak You need to rest” Capturing his hand, Courtney guided him into a chair, then knelt at his feet, afraid to look away, afraid that, if she did, he’d vanish “You look so thin, so tired…”
Arthur Johnston leaned forward, patted his daughter’s cheek “I’ll h to ensure that Now stop worrying”
“I’d given up,” she whispered “I’d stopped praying for this miracle But it’s occurred nonetheless The watch…it wasn’t wrong…and today—it wasn’t just Slayde and me that made it start aneas you…the fact that you’re here…alive…” Knoords could never convey all she longed to explain, she tugged the timepiece from her pocket, opened the case “It stopped the day you went overboard,” she got out, her voice quavering “Several ti, it resu tears glide down his cheeks as he absorbed her words, reached out to touch the precious gift his wife had given hio “Here, Papa—” Courtney snapped the timepiece shut and pressed it into his pals—with you”
Reflexively, her father’s fingers closed around the engraved case “Yet another miracle” He bent to kiss Courtney’s forehead “Not only have you been restored to me, but now your mother has as well”
Still dazed, Courtney struggled to think straight, to ask all she needed to know “How did you survive? How did you find me?”
A muscle worked in her father’s jaw “I owe my life to Lexley,” he said fervently “It was his loyalty and courage that gavechance He severed ased on ed me into a peaceful inlet, where I crawled on shore and collapsed for Lord kno long Eventually, a fisherave me food and as much care as they were able I don’t reain, Courtney’s father leaned forward, s his weathered features “I kept seeing flashes of you, crying, weak and bandaged, needingme to help you Twice, I crawled from the house—I suppose I was delirious with fever—to look for you Each tiiven up when Mr Rayburn located me
“Mr Rayburn?” Courtney gasped
Her response elicited that cherished twinkle she loved so one forever “Um-hum You asked how I found you Well, ator Rayburn unearthed ave me—that you were alive, cared for—was the best medicine on earth The next day when Slayde cae ride frohthouse That’s e decided on this birthday surprise” A grin in Aurora’s direction “I never thought Lady Aurora would keep it to herself”
Courtney’s head whipped about “You knew?” she demanded of Aurora
A beatific s fitted for your wedding dress, I ed to sneak Mr Lexley down here for a little reunion with your father The three of us and Mr Scollard had a grand tirew stronger”
“Speaking of which, what’s in that brew, anyway?” Courtney’s father asked Scollard “I feel more fit by the minute”
“Well, of course,” was the th How else would you be able to walk Courtney down the aisle?”
“You notice he didn’t answer your question, Mr Johnston,” Aurora commented “ ’Tis his way It means he likes you”
“He e for me”