Ghost Train

By L.M. Somerton

The ride of your life could be your last.

Garth's summer job running the ghost train at the local amusement park is supposed to be a stress-free way to earn some much-needed cash. His Goth looks are a bonus as far as his boss is concerned. The sunshine is a stark contrast to the macabre, spooky scenes inside the ride, but when one of the corpses proves to be more realistic than it should be, shadows are cast on the summer.

Clem sees potential in the moody fairground assistant with spiky hair and pretty blue eyes. He can't wait to explore Garth's submissive nature. But Clem isn't quite what he seems and he might be all that stands between Garth and a violent death. Earning Garth's trust won't be easy in a world where secrets can mean survival.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Nov 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781786516961

L.M. Somerton

Lucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted. She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She's fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.

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Author

Pride Publishing books by L.M. Somerton

Single title

Mountain Rescue

Black Dog

The Portrait

Stroke Rate

Chemical Bonds

Testing Lysander

Owned by the Sea

The Wyverns

Mantrap

Deathtrap

Rattrap

Sand Trap

Steel Trap

Tales from The Edge

Reaching the Edge

Living on the Edge

Dancing on the Edge

A Double-Edged Sword

Rough Around the Edges

Scorched Edges

Driven to the Edge

Binding the Edges

Investigating Love

Investigating Love: Rasputin’s Kiss

Investigating Love: Evil’s Embrace

Investigating Love: Tarot’s Love

Warlocks

Warlocks: Elemental Love

Warlocks: Elemental Hope

The Retreat

Serving Him

Anthologies

Racing Hearts: Keeping the Luck

His Rules: Tagging Mackenzie

Fairground Attractions

GHOST TRAIN

L.M. SOMERTON

Ghost Train

ISBN # 978-1-78651-696-1

©Copyright L.M. Somerton 2018

Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill ©Copyright November 2018

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

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The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2018 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

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GHOST TRAIN

Book one in the Fairground Attractions series

The ride of your life could be your last.

Garth’s summer job running the ghost train at the local amusement park is supposed to be a stress-free way to earn some much-needed cash. His Goth looks are a bonus as far as his boss is concerned. The sunshine is a stark contrast to the macabre, spooky scenes inside the ride, but when one of the corpses proves to be more realistic than it should be, shadows are cast on the summer.

Clem sees potential in the moody fairground assistant with spiky hair and pretty blue eyes. He can’t wait to explore Garth’s submissive nature. But Clem isn’t quite what he seems and he might be all that stands between Garth and a violent death. Earning Garth’s trust won’t be easy in a world where secrets can mean survival.

Dedication

To everyone doing things that scare them.

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Interview with the Vampire: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Audi: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll

Tannoy: Tannoy Ltd

2CV: Peugeot S.A.

Harry Potter: J K Rowling

Voldemort: J K Rowling

Frankenstein: Mary Shelly

Fast and Furious: Universal Pictures

Mensa: Mensa International

Chapter One

Four teas, my lovelies. Food’ll be out in a minute. Mo, proprietor of the eponymous Mo’s Café, deposited her tray on the edge of the table before setting a steaming mug in front of each of her four customers. You boys back for the summer then?

Why else would we be here taking in the delights of your homage to seventies décor, Mo? Garth accompanied his words with a sweep of his hand, displaying black-painted nails. He got a clip around the ear for his trouble.

Cheeky boy. Mo grinned. It’s good to see you. You all look the same—except you, sweetie. She ruffled Stevie’s candy-floss hair. This was blue last year, but the lilac suits you.

Stevie blushed to the roots of his mop and started to play with the salt cellar. Zach squeezed his shoulder.

It’ll go well with the products on your stall, Stevie.

Stevie gazed at him, his silver-gray eyes huge. I’m not working at the candy-floss concession this year, Zach. I’m going to be running the carousel. He sounded proud.

Wow! That’s quite a promotion. The carousel’s a prime spot and so much fun. Dad’s put me back on the helter-skelter, which I think is his way of telling me I need more exercise, and Garth is on the ghost train as usual.

Garth grinned. Where else would he put me? He flicked an imaginary piece of lint from the shoulder of his black leather jacket. I fit right in.

What is it they call all that black? Mo asked. Gouda, gaudy… No, neither of those sounds right. Ghastly?

He’s a Goth, Mo, Zach explained, raising his voice to be heard above his friends’ laughter. Mo wandered back to the counter, muttering about weird fashion sense and clothing better suited to funerals.

Garth shrugged. She loves me. He extracted a black lipstick from his jacket pocket then applied a fresh coat. "Last year she asked me if I’d been an extra in Interview with The Vampire. That film came out in 1994. I wasn’t even born! He sniffed and examined his fingernails. What about you, Adam? What’s Zach’s dad got you doing this year?"

Adam pushed his shoulders back and stuck his chest out. Security. Same as before. He said I have to keep you three in line. He raised his mug of tea in a toast. Though he also admitted it was a hopeless task.

Garth gave his friend the once over, admiring his well-muscled physique. Adam looked exactly like the county and England rugby player he was. He was a head taller than the rest of them at six foot four. Garth only made six feet because of his thick-soled biker boots. Stevie, the smallest of the group, had topped out at five foot six and Zach only a couple of inches more. Stand them in a line and they made a great slope.

You have more chance of convincing Mo not to serve black pudding with her full English. Never gonna happen. Zach clinked his mug against Adam’s. But have at it. Stevie at least will enjoy you telling him what to do.

Adam’s half-laugh told them that he would enjoy that just as much. Stevie’s pale cheeks pinked.

Don’t tease me, he muttered, not making eye contact. You’re no different.

Garth had the chance to contemplate Stevie’s words as Mo arrived to deposit four heaped plates in front of them. His arteries