Warning: Spoilers for “Marshals” Season 1, Episode 13 — “Wolves at the Door”
Curious about where Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) stands in his relationships? He’s currently keeping things strictly friendly with Andrea Cruz (Ash Santos), at least for now. The episode titled “Wolves at the Door” wraps up with Kayce taking a ride alongside Dolly Weaver (Ellyn Jameson), who has decided to delay her return to Texas to explore a budding romance with him. As they set off together, Kayce seems to find a rare moment of peace and happiness since the tragic loss of his wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) earlier this season.
The picturesque scene of Kayce and Dolly riding away might seem idyllic, but the underlying truth is more perilous than it appears. Dolly’s father, Tom (Chris Mulkey), turns out to be the one targeting tribal high chief and casino owner Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). While Tom’s exact motives remain a mystery, his intentions towards the Broken Rock Reservation—and those allied with it—are anything but benign.
Throughout Season 1 of “Marshals,” subtle clues have hinted at Tom’s hidden agenda. An outsider initially seen as a benign presence on a snowy path, his interest in Kayce’s East Camp seemed innocuous. However, it’s now evident that his ambition for the reservation’s land has become dangerously obsessive.
The most alarming aspect of Tom’s scheme involves Kayce’s son, Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill). Under the pretense of a fishing trip in Texas, Tom has effectively taken Tate, giving him a chilling form of leverage over Kayce—who remains unaware of this grim reality.
Kayce and Dolly’s romance is about to get majorly complicated
Fred Hayes/CBS
Unbeknownst to Tom, Kayce has a history of taking drastic measures to protect his family. Should Tom meet his end at Kayce’s hands, it would likely shatter Kayce’s budding relationship with Dolly, potentially paving the way for Andrea to step in. However, fans will have to wait until “Marshals” returns for its second season in the fall to see which path Kayce chooses.
The scariest part of Tom’s rampage, of course, is the fact that he’s got Kayce’s kid, Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill), with him. Taking the child under the guise of showing him how to fish for trout in Texas, Tom now has some pretty horrifying leverage on Kayce — and the worst part is, Kayce doesn’t even know it yet.
Tom, of course, has no idea that Kayce has done some scary things to keep Tate and Monica safe. If he meets his doom at Kayce’s command, that’s bound to put a kibosh on Kayce’s connection with Dolly — leaving the door wide open for Andrea to make her play for the Dutton man. But fans won’t find out who Kayce ultimately picks until “Marshals” returns for a second season in the fall.
