In 1911, Ada Boykin is a Missionary and the young wife of a Southern preacher. She and her three children are whisked away in the night from Tucker's Store, Alabama to Gulfport, Mississippi after threats are made to her husband's life. He's accused of stealing shirts. En route to their new home, they witness a terrifying scene that imbues fear and a sense of helplessness.
They press forward, making a friend who would prove to be invaluable along the way. Ada and her children settle on a small plot of land in a former logging camp. Their meager home is the best they've ever had, creating a sense of accomplishment until they find that the house is haunted. Ada must decide what to do.
She makes friends with ladies in the community including one who becomes her lifelong friend, and one who she learns is her sister-in-law. Together, they face problems and successes that forge a tighter bond between them.
As time goes by, it becomes more evident that her husband, Lonnie, is not a faithful example of ministerial piety. This pushes her to make decisions about her life, but by now, she has nine children.
A visit back home reveals information that threatens to shatter the life she has forged. She must decide on a course of action for her future and the future of her children. There begins a greater struggle which includes infidelity, gossip, friendship, and a ghost.