Entertainment for the Major by NRG F/f fight in Wellington's time It was June 1813, Wellington's army had just crushed the French at Vittoria and was now poised to launch an invasion of France itself. Despite this Major George Scott was bored. Wounded at the battle of Salamanca a year earlier he had returned to Spain to find his battalion on garrison duty at the fortress town of Ciudad Rodrigo, protecting Wellingtons' vital supply line from the Portuguese coast. He had been back on duty for more than a month and was being denied the opportunity of more glory on the battlefield, and therefore promotion. He spent his days overseeing the seemingly endless supply columns that were labouring to catch up with the rapidly advancing army. "Coming to the cockfights this evening, Sir?" asked his aide Lieutenant Godwin. "That's boring now as well, John," he replied stifling a yawn, as put the finish touches to the day's paperwork, "I need something different, something more stimulating." "Well, I did over hear, the men discussing some sort of prizefight that they'd organised, it might be worth investigating." "You know that brawling between the men is against Kings regulations. We could both risk a court-martial if were seen to be condoning such an activity." "AH! But sir this isn't between two of the men," replied Godwin mysteriously. "Who then?" asked the major, his curiosity well and truly aroused. "Two of their wives Sir. Apparently there has been trouble brewing for some time and the men thought it would be better to arrange a proper fight to clear the air. And possibly make a little extra money at the same time by taking bets on the outcome." "Where and when Lieutenant, is this to take place?" he asked trying not to sound too eager, he had never seen women prizefighters before and this would be a new experience. "I'll find out, Sir." "Do so and let me know. I'm returning to my billet now. When you've found out, meet me there, and we'll go along, just to make sure there are no breaches of regulations, you understand," he said smiling as he picked up his shako and left the room. The Major was beginning to think that his young aide had been unable to find the venue of the fight. He was going to give up waiting and seek some entertainment of his own, probably involving several bottles of wine and a couple of local girls, the Lieutenant burst into his room. "It's on Sir!" he said breathlessly, "We'll have to hurry though here using a field just outside the town walls it's due to start at seven." The Major looked at his watch. "We have thirty minutes, lead the way Lieutenant!" The two officers arrived to find red-coated shoulders crowding round the ring. Fearing that the officers were there to stop the fight, the assembled soldiery let out a collective groan. "Where are the fighters then?"Major Scott asked one of the men, "we've come here to see a fight, not a parade." All round the men relaxed visibly, the Major was well liked by his men and they knew that while he was there he would be able to prevent any interference from the Provosts. "Just coming now Sir," said a burly Sergeant. The crowd parted and two young women, one blonde and the other a redhead, ducked under the single rope of the makeshift ring. Both women were wearing heavy army boots and white uniform trousers with greatcoats draped over their shoulders. "Who are they and what's the prize Sergeant Davy?" "The blonde is called Anne, Sir. She was married to Sergeant Webster, he was killed in a skirmish with some French Voltigeurs, just before you returned from England. The redhead is Beth. Her husband was killed at the same time, so they're fighting for the right to marry me," he replied proudly. Scott nodded it was not unusual for a woman whose husband had been killed to remarry another member of the regiment as quickly as possible and a Sergeant would be a good catch for any woman. Britain's army made no provision for its widows, and the women were left to fend for themselves on the death of their husbands. "To make it a little more interesting, I'll put up a prize of five guineas for the winner." Major Scott announced to the crowd. The crowd gasped, five guineas were nearly six months pay for a private soldier and considered a veritable fortune. Both women were called to the middle of the ring, where a line had scratched in the dirt. The referee, another Sergeant gave them and their seconds a brief outline of the rules. "Has either of them done this before?" he asked the prospective groom. "No Sir, but they have both had a couple of weeks to learn some of the basics." Returning to their corners the fighters removed their greatcoats. There were murmurs of approval from the crowd as they saw that both women were stripped to the waist. Neither of them looked to be over twenty and the Major cast an approving eye over their lean, fit bodies. Redheaded Beth was slightly taller and heavier than her blonde opponent. The referee called them to the scratch, the crowd went silent in anticipation of what was to come. "I'll wager a guinea on the redhead," said Lieutenant Godwin. "Taken," said the Major, and the referee dropped his hand to start the contest. They made a brisk start, Anne ducked under a right swing from Beth and drove her fist deep into the redhead's belly. Beth stepped back and Anne struck her a sharp blow to the nose. Blinking hard with the pain from her nose Beth swung her right flattening the blonde's left breast. With a slight squeak of pain Anne danced backwards, dropping her hand to her breast, warily now she circled her opponent. A roar of approval from the crowd greeted Beth's next attack, lunging forward she smashed her fist into Anne's tit again. Finding herself being back towards the ropes Anne threw another punch at Beth's head this time catching her in the mouth, ducking under a wild swing she hit the larger girl hard in the kidneys, sending her staggering back. Beth half turned to protect herself and took a right high on the side of her head which dropped her to the dusty floor. Anne returned to her corner and sitting on the knee of her second took a drink of cold water. She looked down at her right breast and saw that it was already looking red and tender. They would only have thirty seconds rest before they were called back to the scratch. "Fifteen seconds," called the referee as Beth finally lurched to her own corner, where her second cleaned the blood away from her split lip and gave her cool drink. "Want to cancel your wager Lieutenant?" smiled the Major. "Early days yet, Sir," answered the young aide, "would you care to double it?" "You're on." "Fighters to the scratch," shouted the referee. The women returned to the centre of the ring each placing the toe of their right boot on the line. Beth was still bleeding slightly from her cut lip. Anne darted forward throwing a left, Beth blocked the punch and thudded home her own right to the blonde's increasingly tender left breast. In pain Anne grabbed hold of Beth and tried to throw her to the floor, and they struggled locked together for sometime before Beth managed to break free from Anne's grip. The redhead feinted a right at Anne's chest, and as the blonde dropped her hand to protect it Beth slammed her left fist into her foe's eye followed by a hard right which immediately drew blood from her nose. "Finish the blonde bitch!" yelled one of the women from the ringside. "Ruin her!" screamed another. In pain and half-blinded Anne tried desperately to grab hold of her opponent again, but Beth dodged to one side and hammered home a flurry of unanswered punches to the blonde's breasts and belly. Stepping back, she let the now whimpering blonde fall to the dirt and swaggered to her own corner. Anne dragged herself to her corner, where her second splashed water over her battered and bruised bosom, and cleaned blood and snot away from her nose. Looking across the ring at her rival. "I'll ruin the whore if she gets up," Beth said disdainfully to her second. There was a loud cheer as Anne walked to the scratch, when the referee called time. Keen to finish the fight, Beth attacked again drawing a fresh flow of blood from her foe's nose, the lighter girl went backwards. Scorning any form of defence Beth lunged forward and howled in pain as Anne's right fist landed between her legs. Clutching at the source of her pain, she staggered against the rope, now it was her turn to suffer as the blonde followed up with a barrage of punches to her unprotected chest. Anne pushed the redhead upright and hit her twice in the face splitting the thin layer of skin over her left eye. Unable to take the pain being inflicted on her Beth sagged to the floor. As she fell, Anne drove her knee hard into the middle of her face breaking her nose and adding to the blood and gore already covering her face. Anne returned to her corner and leaned back on the ring post breathing heavily from her efforts. "Get up girl!" shouted Lieutenant Godwin conscious of losing two guineas to his commanding officer. Denied help from her second unless she returned to her own corner, Beth sat on the floor sobbing in pain, her face a gory mess. "Fifteen seconds," called the referee. Anne looked at her stricken enemy and prayed to herself that the redhead wouldn't get up. She didn't think she had the strength to continue much longer herself. Drawing on unknownly reserves of strength Beth pulled her to her feet. "That's it girl!" shouted the Lieutenant, as Beth unbelievably made it back to the scratch. Anne knew she would have to finish it quickly and put all her weight behind a swinging right aimed at Beth's jaw. Beth swayed forward and the punch crashed into the top of her head. Squealing in agony, Anne jumped backwards her right hand was broken. Beth slightly stunned grabbed and held on. The two women stood breast to breast for some time before Anne pushed herself free. Hooking her undamaged hand into the soft tissue of Beth's right tit, the redhead yelped and struck out, her own fist smacking into Anne's nose before they fell into another clinch. The Major looked on marvelling at the punishment the two women had taken, but he knew that the end must come soon. Breaking free again Anne drove her left hand deep into Beth's breast. Beth now stumbled backwards and Anne struck her again on the same spot before landing her broken right on the redhead's jaw. Holding her smashed hand, Anne stepped back and Beth fell unconscious to the ground. Anne went to her corner and looked across at Beth laying motionless on the ground only the rise and fall of her chest showing that she was still alive. Anne felt totally drained but she knew that she still had to return to the scratch before she could claim her prize. "Fifteen seconds," came the call, Beth was still out cold, the blood and sweat on her face and body already drying in the warm sun of a Spanish evening. Nobody would go to help her until the full thirty seconds were up. "Time," shouted the referee and Anne walked unsteadily to the scratch, as she toed the line the referee raised her hand, "The winner ANNE!" Beth's friends were quickly into the ring to help her. Outside the ring the major reached into his purse and drew out five golden guineas. "Here give these to your new wife," he said to Sergeant Davies. "Mr Godwin, I fear you owe me two guineas." The Lieutenant fumbled reluctantly in his pocket before producing the money and offering it to the Major. "Give it to the redhead," he turned away, "She's earned it...."