" Thirteen Steps " is the 12th episode of the fourth season of the AMC Western series Hell on Wheels , originally airing on November 15, 2014. The episode is a somber, character-driven piece centered on the trial and impending execution of Ruth Cole after she mortally shoots Sidney Snow, the man responsible for the death of her son, Ezra. Plot Summary
: Cullen and Ruth spend her final night in a jail cell together, sharing intimate reflections on their relationship and the life they might have had. Ruth reveals her long-held love for Cullen but urges him to choose his new family over his life on the railroad. "Hell on Wheels" Thirteen Steps(2014)
: Governor John Campbell offers Ruth multiple opportunities to avoid the gallows, including a pardon if she will sign it, but she steadfastly refuses. Even after Mickey McGinnes threatens Campbell and Cullen attempts to facilitate a jailbreak, Ruth remains committed to her fate. " Thirteen Steps " is the 12th episode