In episode 3, Staten and Davis have a tense feud that escalates during Gracie's grand reopening party. Davis accuses Staten and brings up Reid's dishonesty about a heroic event at the ghost house. Reid admits to lying, which damages Staten's reputation and strains his relationship with Quinn. Staten confronts his father about his manipulative actions to push the pipeline project, adding to the family and community tensions.

Quinn remains caught between Staten and Davis throughout the episode. She shares a tender dance with Staten during the party, but their moment is interrupted by Davis's provocations. Quinn is upset by Staten's handling of Reid's lie and realizes Staten only attended the party due to Sam's urging, which complicates her feelings toward him.

Yancy is shown in a flashback in jail, where he makes a deal with Davis to get out in exchange for convincing Cap to yield to the pipeline or else take it by force. In the present, Yancy is late to the party due to being pulled aside by Freddie, missing the event entirely. His past and deal with Davis add an ominous layer to the pipeline conflict.

Quinn's older sister Angie is introduced, arriving to race horses and tease Quinn about her love life. Also, Lucas's older brother Kit returns home after being away, revealing he was involved in a side hustle to support the family. Their presence adds new family dynamics and tensions, especially with Sheriff Dan, who disapproves of Kit and Lucas's activities.

The party is a focal point where multiple conflicts come to a head: Staten and Davis argue publicly, Reid admits to lying about his heroics, and Quinn and Staten share a complicated dance. Sheriff Dan gets into a drunken fistfight with Kit, which disrupts the event. The party exposes underlying tensions among the characters and advances the plot surrounding the pipeline and personal relationships.