Episode 3 of Season 6 of "Virgin River" kicks off with Lizzie and Hope heading to the barn to visit Jack and Mel, eager to discuss the upcoming wedding. With Hope at the helm, the wedding has transformed into a town-wide spectacle, akin to Virgin River's very own royal wedding. Jack and Mel harbor some doubts about the flurry of new plans, yet they place their trust in Hope's expertise. Mel vows to decide on her wedding escort, while Jack ponders whether a Marine-themed wedding suits him. Time is ticking; they have just two days before the programs are set in print.
Over at the sewing circle, curiosity buzzes as they ponder Muriel's cancellation of her date. Conversations flow freely at the restaurant until Ricky's return steals the spotlight. Fresh from his training, he reveals that deployment looms just two weeks ahead. Jack's joy at Ricky's return mingles with concern, a sentiment echoed by Lydie.
At the clinic, Denny's first day as an intern begins amidst Vernon's mischievous scheme, orchestrating a prank with a patient. Meanwhile, Muriel's anxiety over a breast lump grows. Mel, returning from her walk with Everett, examines Muriel and urges her to consider a biopsy, all while striving to keep her calm.
Ricky drops by to catch up with Lizzie, stunned by her pregnancy news. They share updates on their evolving lives, yet Ricky's casual demeanor hides his surprise at Lizzie's newfound maturity. His awkward remark about her pregnancy prompts a defensive response. Ricky's apparent ease with deployment masks a reliance on alcohol to quell his underlying fears.
At the fire station, Brady offers assistance to Lark's mother, who initially plays hard to get but reveals this was her secret plan. A sudden call to rescue a child trapped in a sinkhole interrupts their conversation. Post-rescue, Brady encounters a man from the pot farm, who's astonished by Lark's claim of her mother's illness, considering he sees her weekly in good health, even outdrinking him during card games.
Back in the courtroom, Jenkins' eyes widened in astonishment as Preacher declined his offer and opted to testify. As Preacher ascended the witness stand, he confessed to burying Wes and vividly recounted the harrowing abuse Paige endured in her tumultuous relationship with Wes. He further unveiled how Wes, abusing his authority as a policeman, manipulated the authorities to portray Paige as an unfit mother while casting himself as the innocent victim.
During the court recess, Jack dialed Mel, updating her on the proceedings and inquiring about her well-being. She revealed her wish for Everett to escort her down the aisle but expressed trepidation over Vernon's potential reaction. Meanwhile, Jack encountered Calvin and Charmaine at the courthouse, where they had attended a custody hearing. Charmaine felt it was karmic justice to grapple with Calvin once again. Fortunately, she had been granted sole custody, yet Calvin persisted in hovering around her and their sons.
After the recess, Brie delivered her closing argument, painting Preacher as a hero who had rescued a life. Her empathetic narration of Paige's plight hinted at personal experiences of a similar nature.
Later, Jack returned home to an unexpected visit from Ricky. Ricky confessed his ongoing struggle since learning of his deployment, questioning whether he would ever have the chance to build a family of his own, inspired by Lizzie's transformation. Jack advised him to seek professional help, reminding him that a Marine confronts fear, rather than retreating from it.
At Brie's residence, an awkward moment arose as she attempted to seduce Mike, prompting him to inquire about her sexual assault. His intentions were purely considerate and supportive, but Brie wasn't ready to revisit her trauma.
As the town anxiously awaited the verdict, their thoughts were consumed with Preacher's fate. The jury returned with a unanimous decision, and Brie persuaded Jenkins to downgrade the first-degree murder charges to illegal disposal of human remains, sentencing Preacher to 300 hours of community service.
With Preacher finally liberated, the community gathered at the restaurant to celebrate. Lark arrived a tad late, giving Brie and Brady a rare moment to converse. Subsequently, Lark made a peculiar remark, thanking Brie for releasing Brady from some unseen bond. Brady requested to visit Lark's mother, but she insisted that she needed medical attention first.
Mel informed Vernon of Everett's role in her wedding procession, which he accepted. She then asked him to recite a poem at her wedding instead. Vernon later expressed his disappointment to Hope. Lydie shared her fear with Jack that Ricky might not return, but he reassured her of his eventual return. At the culmination of the festivities, they decided it was time to organize a Bachelor and Bachelorette party for Jack and Mel. The episode concluded with Calvin lurking outside the restaurant, leaving one to ponder his intentions.
