This week’s Free Fiction Friday story from UnWrecked Press is “Winter Hunt.”

UPDATE: Now that the free week is over, you can read the rest of this story by downloading an ebook at Smashwords and Amazon. Then you can read it on your laptop, desktop, Kindle, iPad, Nook, iPhone, or whatever device you use to read ebooks.

I wrote this story many moons ago, and it was one of the first stories that had little or no autobiographical stuff in it. Pure fiction — it was a great feeling. It was first published at a small online venue called The Stirring in July 2000, and was then reprinted in the Climate Controlled anthology in October 2002.

Winter Hunt

In the early morning darkness, Brad Koopman stepped into the tracks his older William made in the snowy hay field, his smaller boots fitting easily into each hole.  William had taken the lead automatically, and his broad back deflected most of the bitter Iowa wind, also making it easier for Brad to move.  The two brothers walked in silent gray darkness toward the trees as bands of red light filled the sky above them.  Their father was deep in the woods, waiting for deer.

“What time did he get up?” Brad asked his brother’s back.  The icy air of late December filled his chest, and he immediately regretted opening his mouth.  It felt like his lungs were going to freeze.

“An hour ago, I think,” William said without turning around.  His voice barely reached Brad’s ears.

Shifting the unfamiliar weight of the compound bow to his right hand, Brad shuffled through the crunching snow to keep up with his brother.  Three inches taller and thirty pounds heavier than Brad, William was already breathing in short, fast bursts.  Brad caught up to him as they left the clean expanse of the field and entered the overgrown forest where they used to hunt with their father.

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Read the rest of this story by downloading an ebook at Smashwords and Amazon.