Emily is a novel of faith, intrigue, and mystery. The reader will wonder why Aunt Helen thinks little Beth, who died in January, will come back to her. As soon as Emily reads letters from her aunt, she makes plans to leave her home and travel by steamboat to Jefferson, Texas. She must unravel the reasons for her aunt's mental state. It will be a long journey via coastal waters to New Orleans, but she is compelled to go in spite of objections from a family member. Along the way, as the Texana plows through the waters of the Red River, Emily meets Jason, whom she finds both fascinating and frustrating. She can't allow herself to become romantically drawn to him because she is soon to be engaged to Charles Grant, her friend since childhood. She is determined to dedicate herself to do quickly what she has to do at Dixon Manor and return to Richmondtown, Staten Island. Marie Bockmon Cariker became drawn to the rich history of Jefferson, Texas, while visiting relatives of her late husband. She was married to writer Marc Bockmon, who, before his death, encouraged her to write. Thus Emily was born. Marie lives in Georgetown, Texas.