Them to kill her off, especially since it's the final season and they can just end it with a "She's on her way home to live HEA with her hubby and kid". That said, the explanation was pretty bad. Why couldn't it be a family emergency? Her mother had a stroke, her dad is seriously ill, an aunt or someone (doesn't she have a sister?) needed her to come take care of them for a bit. They could do some one-sided phone calls with Judd now and then.
I liked the premiere minus that part. I'm down for Carlos as a Texas Ranger.