Episode 6 of Season 2 of "1923" commences with the Dutton family gathered around the dinner table, their numbers swelled by new arrivals. With more mouths to feed than ever, Zeke is eager to saddle up and ride once more, his enthusiasm barely contained. Jacob, however, harbors reservations, though he acknowledges, in a poignant moment, that this is the first time since the war that every seat at their table is occupied.
Outside, the tranquil scene is disrupted by the sheriff's arrival bearing momentous news. He has conferred with Spencer, and it seems the loose-lipped switchboard operators have spilled the beans. Spencer's "warmongering" rhetoric will not sit well with Whitfield when he learns of it. The consequences could be dire—Spencer's death might very well ignite a war.
Elsewhere, Father Renaud and the detective examine Pete's lifeless body. It transpires that the shots heard in the previous episode were fired by the detective, who has taken a man's life. Renaud expresses his doubts about this brutal method of justice, noting the bloodshed in the detective's wake. As Renaud himself laments, the detective's mission was to bring a murderer to justice, not to slay innocent souls. This revelation proves to be the last straw for Renaud, who shoots the detective dead.
Teonna senses that something is amiss, as Pete has yet to return. Determined to uncover his fate, she resolves to follow the tracks and locate him in the morning.
News of Spencer's return spreads swiftly to Banner, who attempts to brush off the accolades bestowed upon the man. Banner is intent on stopping Spencer before he can reunite with the Duttons, organizing his men to lie in wait at the train station and eliminate him upon his arrival. Afterward, Banner intends to turn his attention to the rest of the family, intending to exterminate them as well.
Banner pays a visit to Whitfield, who is in the midst of torturing another girl—one with a history of manipulating politicians. Banner cuts straight to the chase, warning that Spencer is a dangerous man who must be stopped. However, Whitfield underestimates Spencer's threat and dismisses Banner, believing that one man cannot make a significant difference.
Jacob, with unwavering determination, rallies his troops, vowing to stop Banner Creighton's henchmen's assassination plot against Spencer before they can succeed. Meanwhile, Jack sets off in pursuit of Jacob and his men, their destination being Livingston—a place where Spencer, too, is making his way amidst the inclement weather.
Elsewhere, Alex finds herself sharing her tale over a steaming cup of tea, nestled by a crackling fire with the kind-hearted couple from earlier. Paul, the husband, presents a solution. Possessing a vehicle, they kindly offer to assist Alex in the final leg of her arduous journey, driving her all the way to Montana. As they plot their course, guess which town emerges as their crossroads? Indeed, it is Livingston. A treacherous three-day journey of over 1,500 miles awaits them.
Their voyage progresses smoothly until they near Buffalo. Snow begins to blanket the ground, and at a gas station, they fortify their vehicle with fuel and tire chains. The attendant, forewarning of impending hardships, urges them to take the train from Sheridan. Although roads do exist, they lack the necessary gas stations, rendering a stranded fate inevitable should they deplete their supply.
However, Alex, for reasons unknown, chooses to disregard this sage advice, and they venture onward. Inevitably, their fuel gauge dips perilously low. When it finally hits empty, Alex awakens to a harrowing sight—the benevolent couple, frozen in eternal slumber.
At Livingston Station, Jacob scouts the premises, realizing that Banner and his henchmen intend to exploit the throng of travelers as both a shield and a diversion. Once Spencer meets his fate, they plan to blend into the crowd and escape unscathed. With only three men at his disposal, Jacob knows precision and vigilance are paramount. With Spencer's arrival scheduled for the day after tomorrow, time, it seems, is on their side—perhaps too much so.
Regrettably, Jack's solo journey upwards by steed proves perilous, as his path directly intersects with Banner's ruthless henchmen. Jack's loose tongue gets him into fatal trouble; after revealing his true identity and familial ties, they gun him down without mercy. Clearly, this was hardly a well-conceived strategy.
Concurrently, Teonna and Runs His Horse come upon Pete and the deceased detective's bodies, leaving them with no viable option to move Pete. They are compelled to pay their solemn respects right where they stand. As dusk descends upon them, they ignite a fire, fully aware of Renaud's relentless pursuit. Ironically, their blaze serves as the perfect beacon for Renaud, who lies in ambush nearby within the bushes.
In the dead of night, Renaud creeps closer, firing a shot that fells Runs His Horse before training his gun on Teonna. He commands her to recite passages from the Bible, but she defiantly refuses, renouncing any notion of salvation. When Renaud's gun jams as he attempts to execute her, Teonna seizes the moment, snatching a knife and ending the priest's life swiftly, followed by a couple of decisive gunshots.
Tragically, Runs His Horse's fate is sealed in this deadly encounter.
