The third episode of The Abandons opens with the ominous sight of Father Duffy arriving at Constance's doorstep, his life seemingly extinguished. Meanwhile, a tense negotiation between soldiers and the Cayuse tribe descends into chaos as the rebels launch a surprise attack, leaving several soldiers dead or wounded.
Back in town, the doctor's diagnosis of Father Duffy's death is labeled an accident, suggesting he may have been strangled by the horse's reins during his fall. However, two riders arrive on horseback, bearing news of the Cayuse attack and seeking the doctor's assistance. Constance then orders Garret to locate the commander of the soldiers.
In the interim, she speaks with Roache, convincing him to introduce her to Red Bird, the rebel leader of the Cayuse. Roache is taken aback by her request, warning her of the potential risks such an association might entail in the future.
Constance wishes to send Jack with Roache to meet Red Bird, but Roache insists that it must be a Van Ness meeting. Constance agrees and arranges for the meeting to take place the next morning.
As the community tends to the injured soldiers, Fiona finds solace in a dying corporal's side. Meanwhile, Constance encourages Trisha to leverage her musical talent as an asset in her future marriage prospects.
Shortly thereafter, the commander meets with Constance, expressing his surprise at her business acumen. He explains that they may need to stay longer to settle the internal conflict with the Cayuse. Constance offers her help, warmly welcoming the army with open arms.
In a hushed conversation, Jack informs Barrett that his mother is planning to set her sights on the Badlands. This news is a surprise to Barrett, and Jack warns him to keep it between them, adding an air of intrigue to their conversation.
With a heavy heart, Elias and Fiona make their way to church after assisting in the amputation of a soldier's arm, their steps filled with the weight of recent events. Elias's anxiety lingers like a fog, while Fiona strives to maintain her composure, excusing herself to give Elias and Trisha a moment to speak in the sanctuary's serene quiet.
Trisha confides in Elias, her voice tinged with the struggle of trying to find her place in the world since her father's passing. Elias, too, admits to contemplating his own aspirations and interests, only to stumble upon an awkward flirtation that is promptly saved by Albert's timely intervention.
That night, Fiona finds solace in a conversation with the corporal on the brink of death, her words filled with the weight of her family's future and the guidance she seeks through prayer.
At Constance's residence, Barrett questions the reasons behind her decision to keep him in the dark about the Badlands. Constance explains that as the heir, she bears the risk alone to keep him safe, and her explanation of Willem's different path hints at a lingering hope for his return.
In the local pub, a soldier's disrespect towards Trisha forces Elias to spring into action, his actions echoing through the bar. Barrett joins in the fray, but the soldier proves to be formidable. Just when all seems lost, Constance arrives and signals Roache to take down the soldier. It is then that Elias notices Roache's hands, a subtle reminder of the sacrifices made. After the incident, Constance reprimands her children and guides them home with a firm but loving hand.
The following day, Fiona pays a visit to the ailing soldier, who makes a final request to be buried in the fields. Meanwhile, Elias sneaks away to spy on Roache at the Van Ness ranch. Trisha stumbles upon him hiding and confronts him. Elias confesses his belief that Roache is the leader of the Redmasks, a revelation that is hard for Trisha to swallow, given her mother's association with such individuals. She insists on joining Elias as he follows Constance, Jack, and Roache into the Badlands.
The trio eventually encounters the Redmasks and a horse chase ensues. In the midst of the chaos, Elias saves Trisha from falling when her horse misjumps. This near-death experience brings home to Trisha the realization that she knows little about her mother. Elias cautions her to keep their discovery under wraps and admits his feelings for her, though the gap between them is too vast to bridge. They part ways as friends, promising to support each other if the need arises in the future.
Elias returns home and informs Fiona that Constance has hired a bandit army to track down Willem. They must find a way to keep their secret safe. In the Badlands, the trio is joined by more Cayuse rebels, their faces obscured before being led to Red Bird. Constance offers silver, but Red Bird insists on weapons. In the end, Constance strikes a deal with the Cayuse rebels to deliver them.
Elias' discovery sparks an idea in Fiona: instead of burying Corporal Mitchell in the fields as originally planned, she uses his body to cover up the truth about Willem's death. Miles joins them suspiciously to see what they are up to. As Fiona and her boys dress the body in Willem's clothes, wolves can be seen devouring the body at the end of the episode, leaving a chilling reminder of their actions.
