The premiere of Outer Range's second season kicks off with a cowboy and his companion venturing into the vast wilderness. There, they stumble upon a distressed cow, its newborn calf unharmed but the mother suffering gravely. Believing it to be a foreboding omen, they swiftly end the mother's suffering with a bullet to her head. As the camera descends, it reveals that this very spot appears to be the genesis of the mysterious Western pasture hole, as a dark, viscous pool begins to seep out.
The scene shifts to Royal and Cecilia at the dinner table. Royal attempts to convince Cecilia, known as Cece, that Autumn is indeed Amy, his certainty in this belief unparalleled. Cece, however, remains unconvinced and gathers her things, leaving the house in a huff. Upstairs, Autumn struggles with pain, eventually finding her way downstairs, clinging to the banister as she makes her way to Royal.
Alone with Autumn, Royal demands to know what she's not telling him. She questions him about Amy's scars, her confusion and curiosity evident. There's a crucial piece of the puzzle missing, and her actions and words leave us intrigued. As they head to the hospital, Royal mentions the narrow window they have before Amy turns nine, a crucial age that seems to herald the loss of her memories. We'll have to wait and see if this prophecy unfolds.
Cece, determined to find Amy, heads to the police station, her composure fraying. With Joy unresponsive to calls and the chaos caused by the massive bison stampede, the station is in disarray. Upon learning that Rebecca has returned, Cece rushes out, making her way to meet a man named Lewis. This eccentric individual has scared away numerous women from within his tent, but Cece learns that Rebecca left long ago. Their conversation veers into topics of vengeance and forgiveness, and Lewis eventually asks if Amy will forgive Cece for her words about Rebecca.
Meanwhile, Billy awakens, coughing up blood. Remarkably, he's survived the bison collision that left him gravely injured in the season finale. But this isn't the only car crash, as Rhett also finds his vehicle wrecked on the outskirts of town. He manages to get it running again and they arrive at a motel, only to find it overrun with cats.
Beside the road, Royal unleashed a torrent of curses upon Autumn, mistakenly addressing her as Amy. He lamented her entrance into his life, yet when his fingertips grazed her wrist, the night sky underwent a strange transformation. The stars blurred, resembling a painter's hand sweeping over canvases of inky hues. Once the sky stabilized, Royal pointed to this anomaly as a testament to why he believed she was Amy.
Deep in the wilderness, Luke emerged from the aftermath of absorbing the ominous black goo, exuberant and triumphant. He danced about, exclaiming, "I've done it!" As he stumbled back home, he quenched his thirst with water from a vase of flowers, but a distorted voice echoed from the walls, informing him of his significance. This prophetic message spoke of his role in leading people to the Western Pasture. Suddenly, Wayne appeared, his gait unhurried. The trio hastened to the hospital, where Billy was on the verge of emergency surgery.
Autumn lay in a hospital bed, her body wracked with pain. Her ribs were fractured, her lung narrowly avoiding puncture, and a concussion had left her dazed. Royal stood vigilantly at the threshold, yet Autumn refrained from mentioning their altercation or Royal's role in her injuries. The concerned doctor sighed with relief.
Afterward, Royal dialed Cecilia's number, leaving a heartfelt message, vowing to search relentlessly for Amy. However, her mailbox was overwhelmed, and Royal was left with no choice but to abandon his words. Turning, he encountered Wayne and Luke, both having arrived unexpectedly. Wayne taunted Royal about the mysterious land, but Royal, agitated, retorted, urging him to focus on his own affairs. "Time reveals all... Royal," Wayne said, his eyes like two black orbs, staring intently at his counterpart. The conflict was merely a prelude.
Meanwhile, Amy traveled down the road with Rebecca. A gun concealed beneath her jeans, she quickly hid it when Amy awoke. Their destination was a "special place," and they agreed to discuss it upon arrival.
Amidst the ongoing chaos, Matt urgently calls Martha, urging her to remain glued to her phone. The bison stampede has captured the headlines, and while only four hospital cases are reported, two being those we're aware of, Martha is also informed that Joy's whereabouts remain unknown. In reality, Joy is venturing through the wilds, snapping photographs of a Native-American tribe. However, she's soon enveloped by warriors as they approach with arrows, forcing her to flee the land. She manages to choke out one who gets too close, but she's quickly encircled and taken into the tribe's custody.
Back at the Ranch, Cece returns home, and Royal shares with her the dire situation they're facing. He vows to find Amy and hands her a photograph, painting a vivid picture of this bizarre tale. Specifically, he reveals that he was born in 1878, even producing his birth ledger as evidence.
We then journey back in time, witnessing snippets of the Ranch's past. Royal and Cecilia are hard at work on the land when an unexpected figure appears — Perry Abbott. Initially, it seemed he stumbled out of the hole in the Western Pasture and returned to our time, but now, the truth unfolds. He introduces himself as Ben Younger and fabricates a tale about seeking employment and passing through. They advise him to head to the Tillersons, and he promptly departs.
