Below Yellowstone After the violent, nail-biting conclusion of episode 511, the opening of this week’s episode brings a significant change of pace with an unexpectedly sweet moment between two fan favorites Yellowstone Characters we don’t spend nearly enough time with.

About 1,500 miles apart from Big Sky Country, reluctant lovers Colby (Denim Richards) and Teeter (Jennifer Landon) talk on the phone and look at each other. When the short phone call ends, the two exchange embarrassed “I love yous” and put a big, juicy smile on both their faces – and on ours.

While the heartwarming scene leaves us wondering what a romantic comedy spinoff starring the couple might look like, our hopes are soon dashed by more sobering arguments in the bunkhouse. After the death of John Dutton (Kevin Costner), Lloyd (Forrest J. Smith) and Carter (Finn Little) ponder the ranch’s uncertain future as well as their own suddenly precarious employment prospects. Rip (Cole Hauser) soon comes in to inform them that the Dutton estate is in full damage control mode and they must prepare to sell off much of its horses and livestock before Uncle Sam intervenes.

This tough business decision leads to a call to Travis Wheatley (played by series creator Taylor Sheridan), who oversees the ranch’s show horses in Texas. But having to sell the horses isn’t the worst news – at least not for Jimmy (Jefferson White) – who is currently training under Wheatley’s wing at his Bosque Ranch. It seems that the news of John’s murder has not yet reached the young cowboy, and Rip asks Travis to deliver it. As Jimmy struggles with the fact that his mentor is no longer there, the opening credits mark the halfway point of the final season.

After the emotional rollercoaster of the prologue ends, we return to Jamie (Wes Bentley), sitting exactly where we left him last week. However, it has now been several hours since Sarah’s (Dawn Olivieri) murder occurred, and he is assisted by law enforcement who are investigating her death, which was initially believed to be a carjacking.

But Detective Dillard (Rory Cochrane) – who is also responsible for John’s murder – knows better. He begins to question Jamie about his relationship with Sarah. Jamie is initially compliant, but quickly puts on his Attorney General hat and demands a search warrant when the detective goes to collect Sarah’s personal belongings. Before he leaves, Dillard warns the nervous AG that he is now a suspect. As soon as the detective leaves, Jamie rushes to the shredder and begins destroying Sarah’s sensitive documents.

Back at the Dutton ranch, Beth (Kelly Reilly), Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill) are sitting down to a big country breakfast. But Kayce (Luke Grimes) is out on the porch scrolling on his phone to find out about the “car theft.” He receives a call from Dillard, who informs him that Sarah has indeed been “targeted.” After tying together all the details about Sarah, the airport project, John’s murder, and Jamie’s various misdeeds, the two agree that the latter is in great confusion.

Next, Kayce contacts his old military buddy, who has done a little research and has all the information about the company that hired Sarah for the Dutton attack. The mystery man she met in the season’s first episode is named Grant Horton (Matt Gerald), and Kayce now has his home address. Kayce tells Beth that the law is coming for Jamie, but she fears her scumbag brother will betray the family and reveal their darkest secrets – including all those trips to the “train station” to save his own skin. She tells Kayce to take care of Jamie.

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While we eagerly wait for both Jamie and Grant to get their revenge, the episode isn’t yet going to give us that satisfaction. Instead, we get a surprising side story that delivers an unexpected punch in the gut. It seems that sweet moment between Teeter and Colby that opened the episode was carefully orchestrated to ultimately pull the rug out from under us.

A wild horse, affectionately known as “man-eater,” makes life difficult for Carter on the ranch. As the teenager carefully enters the stable to fill his overturned water trough, the beast attacks and bleeds the boy in the face. Colby runs over to help and takes Carter’s place in front of the scary stallion. However, the steed was just getting acquainted with Carter when it tramples Colby before kicking him in the chest, killing the cowboy instantly.

As the final season of the series claims yet another victim, a deep gloom pervades the rest of the episode. In Texas, Ryan (Ian Bohen) and Teeter struggle to cope with the sudden loss of their best friend and life partner, respectively. Meanwhile, Beth meets with Lloyd at the bunkhouse to pack up Colby’s personal items for his mother. Lloyd asks her to leave his hat behind to help Teeter grieve when he returns.

Next, Beth tracks down Carter, who blames himself for Colby’s death. She gives him some of that nonsensical Beth advice and comforts him by telling him that he’s part of the Dutton family. Her pep talk continues when she discovers a sad Rip, who also blames himself for Colby’s accident. She pours him two glasses of Buffalo Trace, one to throw into the fire and one to ease his pain.

We also meet up with Kayce and Tate, who are also at the dump. They talk about life, death and where Grandpa Dutton/John will be buried. Kayce also tells his son that the family ranch is no longer their home. After sending his son into the house, Kayce calls Mo (Moses Brings Plenty) and tells him clearly that he now knows exactly what he has to do.

Later that evening, Kayce is packing his overnight bag when Monica enters. He tells his wife essentially the same thing he told Mo, but adds that whatever he plans to do, he’s doing it for his family, not the ranch. She knows she can’t stop him, but asks him to return to his family when he has completed the dangerous task he has before him. He promises to be back in 24 hours.

The next day we discover that Grant, the hit man, is not only a family man, but also a soccer dad. As he and his daughter get into his Mercedes after the game, a hooded Kayce enters the back of the vehicle and points a gun at the girl. Kayce is moments away from killing the man who played a huge role in his father’s death and ultimately decides to let him live. But he does so on the strict condition that Grant promises not to send anyone after his family to further destroy his connection to John Dutton’s murder.

Grant of course agrees, but he doesn’t get away unscathed. Kayce hits him with a pistol and then describes the violent act as a “countercoup.” As blood pours from Grant’s head, Kayce explains that he just took a piece of the man’s soul by hitting him.

Kayce then gets out of the car, but is soon picked up by Mo. “Counting Coup,” which is the title of this week’s episode, is mentioned again. Kayce tells Mo that he thinks Grant got the message. “Did you count the coup?” asks Mo. When Kayce confirms, Mo nods quietly and answers. “Then he understands.” As the two drive down the street of Grant’s pretty suburban neighborhood, the credits of the third and final episode of “Yellowstone” roll.

Yellowstone airs Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on Paramount Network.