marnie could live with it if lila was in love with him . she could probably live with it-eventually-if noah was in love with lila . but she could n't live her life wondering , not knowing for sure how things stood . for a minute , she thought lila was going to pretend she did n't understand the question . then she expelled a soft sigh of resolution and said , '' there 's nothing between me and
noah

hand moving to the sword resting at his side , he urged his mount to the center of the clearing , putting himself between the cottage and the man who now rode out of the woods . judging from the sudden alarm on the newcomer 's face as he drew his horse to a halt on the edge of the clearing , hugh 's presence came as something of a shock to him . the stranger 's appearance was no less of a surprise to
hugh

at least he would n't have to worry about that anymore , he thought ; remembering the way the old man 's eyes had gradually closed as he squeezed the life out of him . it was almost as though he welcomed death as the end of his suffering . did the suffering really end when you died , he wondered ? or did you take it with you into the
afterlife