Does cover ever factor into close combat? If for example I have a Mutant Hound that Charged a Settler, the Settler was entirely within area terrain and the Hound ended its charge outside of the terrain, would the Settler have any cover? If so, then would it make any difference if both were in the area terrain? I’m assuming the omission in the rules on cover and close combat implies that cover is ignored for close combats…
You are correct that Cover doesn’t affect close combat. (Using a ranged weapon in Close Combat has the same affect as one piece of cover but isn’t cover - p.24.)